Dental Assistants
Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091) earn a median $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour) in the United States, with 387,790 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Minnesota.
What dental assistants do
Dental assistants perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. They prepare the patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays and prepare materials, and assist the dentist during dental procedures and in managing medical or dental emergencies. They expose dental diagnostic x-rays, take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs, and record treatment information in patient records. They provide postoperative instructions prescribed by the dentist and instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs. The SOC adds that they may perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining records, billing and coding information for insurance. They also order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory. O*NET alternate titles include certified dental assistant, expanded duties dental assistant, dental office assistant and dentist attendant. About 46 percent of respondents report a postsecondary certificate, 29 percent a high school diploma and 17 percent some college courses. Dental hygienists, who have their own code, administer oral hygiene care, while the assistant's role supports the dentist.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate as the typical level of education for this occupation (46 percent).
Also called: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Aide, Dental Assistant (DA), Dental Nurse.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.85 | $21.32 | $23.11 | $27.93 | $29.93 | $24.13 | 387,790 |
| Annual | $37,130 | $44,340 | $48,070 | $58,090 | $62,250 | $50,200 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where dental assistants earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $22.58 | $28.82 | $31.38 | $35.78 | $36.59 | $31.13 | 5,980 | 2.03 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $46,960 | $59,940 | $65,270 | $74,410 | $76,110 | $64,740 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.85 | $28.17 | $29.13 | $35.68 | $36.04 | $30.46 | 630 | 0.90 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $47,530 | $58,590 | $60,580 | $74,220 | $74,960 | $63,360 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $22.74 | $23.68 | $28.88 | $29.57 | $30.13 | $27.47 | 1,550 | 2.42 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $47,290 | $49,250 | $60,070 | $61,510 | $62,660 | $57,140 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $22.99 | $23.68 | $28.62 | $29.41 | $30.94 | $27.50 | 1,600 | 2.34 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $47,820 | $49,260 | $59,530 | $61,160 | $64,360 | $57,200 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.56 | $27.21 | $28.60 | $30.54 | $36.33 | $28.90 | 5,930 | 3.01 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $49,010 | $56,600 | $59,490 | $63,520 | $75,570 | $60,110 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.65 | $22.25 | $24.09 | $29.17 | $35.43 | $26.30 | 56,220 | 3.09 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $38,790 | $46,270 | $50,110 | $60,670 | $73,700 | $54,710 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.02 | $17.96 | $21.84 | $23.21 | $27.71 | $21.55 | 33,230 | 2.36 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $35,400 | $37,360 | $45,430 | $48,280 | $57,640 | $44,830 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.17 | $21.69 | $22.89 | $26.29 | $28.31 | $23.32 | 26,620 | 2.68 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $37,800 | $45,120 | $47,620 | $54,690 | $58,880 | $48,500 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.50 | $21.51 | $23.13 | $28.19 | $29.08 | $23.95 | 19,800 | 2.04 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $36,410 | $44,730 | $48,110 | $58,630 | $60,490 | $49,820 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.96 | $19.42 | $23.37 | $27.34 | $28.80 | $23.56 | 13,740 | 2.25 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $37,360 | $40,390 | $48,610 | $56,860 | $59,910 | $48,990 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $26.76 | $28.92 | $35.86 | $36.88 | $39.28 | $34.21 | 2,870 | 2.53 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $55,670 | $60,150 | $74,600 | $76,710 | $81,710 | $71,150 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $22.56 | $30.31 | $34.79 | $36.33 | $36.67 | $32.41 | 3,910 | 2.01 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $46,920 | $63,050 | $72,370 | $75,560 | $76,280 | $67,420 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $22.98 | $28.25 | $30.96 | $35.10 | $38.78 | $31.20 | 7,530 | 3.17 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $47,800 | $58,760 | $64,390 | $73,010 | $80,660 | $64,900 | ||||
| Rochester, MN | Hourly | $22.16 | $28.76 | $30.50 | $34.95 | $35.82 | $29.74 | 320 | 2.61 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $46,090 | $59,820 | $63,450 | $72,700 | $74,510 | $61,860 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $23.51 | $23.73 | $29.83 | $30.32 | $34.64 | $28.68 | 7,100 | 3.41 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $48,900 | $49,370 | $62,040 | $63,070 | $72,060 | $59,650 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.29 | $21.72 | $22.55 | $24.33 | $28.32 | $23.58 | 21,090 | 3.36 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $38,050 | $45,190 | $46,900 | $50,600 | $58,900 | $49,040 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.50 | $21.98 | $23.29 | $28.85 | $30.18 | $24.79 | 20,870 | 2.20 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $36,410 | $45,710 | $48,430 | $60,000 | $62,780 | $51,560 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $18.72 | $22.32 | $23.53 | $27.98 | $29.40 | $24.22 | 10,490 | 2.33 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $38,950 | $46,420 | $48,950 | $58,210 | $61,150 | $50,370 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $18.14 | $22.08 | $23.01 | $26.96 | $28.31 | $23.38 | 9,180 | 3.26 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $37,720 | $45,930 | $47,860 | $56,070 | $58,880 | $48,630 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.70 | $21.81 | $22.87 | $23.88 | $28.23 | $22.97 | 9,010 | 2.23 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $36,820 | $45,370 | $47,570 | $49,660 | $58,710 | $47,770 | ||||
Top industries employing dental assistants
Offices of Dentists employ 91.5% of dental assistants nationally (354,900 jobs) at a median $48,000 a year ($23.08 an hour), followed by Outpatient Care Centers (2.2%) and Offices of Physicians (1.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Dentists NAICS 621200 | 354,900 | 91.5% | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 8,560 | 2.2% | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 7,370 | 1.9% | $47,310 | $22.75 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 3,470 | 0.9% | $56,640 | $27.23 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 3,210 | 0.8% | $49,230 | $23.67 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (387,790). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,660 for dental assistants in May 2021 and $48,070 in May 2025, with employment of 347,170 and 387,790.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,660 | $18.59 | 347,170 |
| May 2022 | $44,820 | $21.55 | 363,880 |
| May 2023 | $46,540 | $22.38 | 370,690 |
| May 2024 | $47,300 | $22.74 | 375,430 |
| May 2025 | $48,070 | $23.11 | 387,790 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota profile | $31.38 | $65,270 | $46,960 | $76,110 | 5,980 | 2.03 | 0.81 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $29.13 | $60,580 | $47,530 | $74,960 | 630 | 0.90 | 0.36 |
| 3 | Maine profile | $28.88 | $60,070 | $47,290 | $62,660 | 1,550 | 2.42 | 0.97 |
| 4 | New Hampshire profile | $28.62 | $59,530 | $47,820 | $64,360 | 1,600 | 2.34 | 0.94 |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $28.60 | $59,490 | $49,010 | $75,570 | 5,930 | 3.01 | 1.21 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $27.93 | $58,090 | $46,280 | $68,230 | 13,050 | 3.68 | 1.47 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $27.88 | $57,980 | $47,270 | $72,790 | 9,680 | 2.66 | 1.07 |
| 8 | North Dakota profile | $27.78 | $57,770 | $43,680 | $72,710 | 860 | 2.00 | 0.80 |
| 9 | Alaska profile | $27.74 | $57,710 | $40,300 | $62,780 | 1,140 | 3.50 | 1.40 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $27.33 | $56,850 | $38,630 | $60,900 | 3,840 | 2.26 | 0.91 |
| 11 | Vermont profile | $25.37 | $52,760 | $45,260 | $66,410 | 580 | 1.91 | 0.77 |
| 12 | North Carolina profile | $24.22 | $50,380 | $38,240 | $60,200 | 11,450 | 2.32 | 0.93 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $24.11 | $50,150 | $45,640 | $60,900 | 1,050 | 2.10 | 0.84 |
| 14 | California profile | $24.09 | $50,110 | $38,790 | $73,700 | 56,220 | 3.09 | 1.24 |
| 15 | New Jersey profile | $23.74 | $49,390 | $38,660 | $64,200 | 9,990 | 2.33 | 0.93 |
| 16 | Arizona profile | $23.56 | $49,000 | $38,500 | $59,380 | 8,680 | 2.68 | 1.07 |
| 17 | Michigan profile | $23.47 | $48,820 | $37,110 | $58,900 | 11,990 | 2.72 | 1.09 |
| 18 | Indiana profile | $23.40 | $48,670 | $36,880 | $60,590 | 6,690 | 2.09 | 0.84 |
| 19 | Maryland profile | $23.38 | $48,620 | $35,560 | $61,710 | 6,560 | 2.37 | 0.95 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $23.37 | $48,610 | $37,360 | $59,910 | 13,740 | 2.25 | 0.90 |
| 21 | Iowa profile | $23.28 | $48,430 | $39,360 | $59,580 | 3,210 | 2.06 | 0.83 |
| 22 | Colorado profile | $23.24 | $48,340 | $38,500 | $60,540 | 8,360 | 2.91 | 1.17 |
| 23 | New York profile | $23.13 | $48,110 | $36,410 | $60,490 | 19,800 | 2.04 | 0.82 |
| 24 | Ohio profile | $23.06 | $47,970 | $36,870 | $78,000 | 12,150 | 2.19 | 0.88 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania profile | $23.05 | $47,930 | $38,040 | $61,430 | 12,080 | 1.99 | 0.80 |
| 26 | South Dakota profile | $23.03 | $47,900 | $38,190 | $60,310 | 1,290 | 2.83 | 1.13 |
| 27 | Kentucky profile | $22.95 | $47,730 | $35,600 | $62,050 | 4,530 | 2.26 | 0.91 |
| 28 | Florida profile | $22.89 | $47,620 | $37,800 | $58,880 | 26,620 | 2.68 | 1.07 |
| 29 | Delaware profile | $22.89 | $47,600 | $36,410 | $56,840 | 990 | 2.04 | 0.82 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $22.85 | $47,520 | $39,500 | $58,840 | 7,760 | 2.64 | 1.06 |
| 31 | South Carolina profile | $22.75 | $47,320 | $37,070 | $58,480 | 5,530 | 2.40 | 0.96 |
| 32 | Nevada profile | $22.65 | $47,110 | $36,870 | $56,700 | 4,230 | 2.72 | 1.09 |
| 33 | Georgia profile | $22.52 | $46,840 | $36,410 | $57,710 | 10,540 | 2.16 | 0.86 |
| 34 | Tennessee profile | $22.46 | $46,720 | $37,810 | $61,260 | 7,420 | 2.26 | 0.91 |
| 35 | Montana profile | $22.44 | $46,680 | $37,340 | $57,900 | 1,450 | 2.84 | 1.14 |
| 36 | Virginia profile | $22.44 | $46,670 | $37,720 | $58,910 | 10,760 | 2.62 | 1.05 |
| 37 | Nebraska profile | $22.43 | $46,660 | $37,810 | $57,430 | 2,520 | 2.46 | 0.99 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $22.10 | $45,970 | $36,580 | $59,410 | 6,760 | 2.30 | 0.92 |
| 39 | Idaho profile | $22.06 | $45,880 | $37,430 | $59,740 | 2,680 | 3.12 | 1.25 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $21.99 | $45,740 | $36,030 | $58,430 | 4,550 | 2.66 | 1.07 |
| 41 | Texas profile | $21.84 | $45,430 | $35,400 | $57,640 | 33,230 | 2.36 | 0.95 |
| 42 | Wyoming profile | $21.63 | $44,990 | $35,530 | $57,110 | 630 | 2.26 | 0.90 |
| 43 | Hawaii profile | $21.50 | $44,720 | $31,540 | $50,340 | 1,960 | 3.12 | 1.25 |
| 44 | New Mexico profile | $21.35 | $44,400 | $37,060 | $55,950 | 2,150 | 2.47 | 0.99 |
| 45 | Louisiana profile | $21.20 | $44,090 | $31,050 | $49,640 | 4,540 | 2.35 | 0.94 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $20.59 | $42,830 | $35,060 | $48,330 | 2,950 | 2.26 | 0.91 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $18.83 | $39,160 | $30,650 | $58,620 | 3,080 | 2.65 | 1.06 |
| 48 | Alabama profile | $18.79 | $39,080 | $30,840 | $51,400 | 3,740 | 1.77 | 0.71 |
| 49 | West Virginia profile | $18.25 | $37,960 | $31,760 | $52,630 | 1,290 | 1.84 | 0.74 |
| 50 | Utah profile | $18.16 | $37,760 | $35,380 | $47,680 | 6,640 | 3.83 | 1.54 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (31-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 31-9091 Dental Assistants.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 31-9091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 31-9091.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.