Dental Assistants Salary by State
The national median pay for dental assistants is $48,070 a year. By state, it ranges from $37,760 in Utah to $65,270 in Minnesota.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $37,130
- 25th percentile
- $44,340
- Median
- $48,070
- 75th percentile
- $58,090
- Top 10%
- $62,250
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 387,790 jobs.
Median pay in 49 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $65,270 | +36% | $46,960 | $76,110 | 5,980 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $60,580 | +26% | $47,530 | $74,960 | 630 |
| 3 | Maine | $60,070 | +25% | $47,290 | $62,660 | 1,550 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $59,530 | +24% | $47,820 | $64,360 | 1,600 |
| 5 | Oregon | $59,490 | +24% | $49,010 | $75,570 | 5,930 |
| 6 | Washington | $58,090 | +21% | $46,280 | $68,230 | 13,050 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $57,980 | +21% | $47,270 | $72,790 | 9,680 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $57,770 | +20% | $43,680 | $72,710 | 860 |
| 9 | Alaska | $57,710 | +20% | $40,300 | $62,780 | 1,140 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $56,850 | +18% | $38,630 | $60,900 | 3,840 |
| 11 | Vermont | $52,760 | +10% | $45,260 | $66,410 | 580 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $50,380 | +5% | $38,240 | $60,200 | 11,450 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $50,150 | +4% | $45,640 | $60,900 | 1,050 |
| 14 | California | $50,110 | +4% | $38,790 | $73,700 | 56,220 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $49,390 | +3% | $38,660 | $64,200 | 9,990 |
| 16 | Arizona | $49,000 | +2% | $38,500 | $59,380 | 8,680 |
| 17 | Michigan | $48,820 | +2% | $37,110 | $58,900 | 11,990 |
| 18 | Indiana | $48,670 | +1% | $36,880 | $60,590 | 6,690 |
| 19 | Maryland | $48,620 | +1% | $35,560 | $61,710 | 6,560 |
| 20 | Illinois | $48,610 | +1% | $37,360 | $59,910 | 13,740 |
| 21 | Iowa | $48,430 | +1% | $39,360 | $59,580 | 3,210 |
| 22 | Colorado | $48,340 | +1% | $38,500 | $60,540 | 8,360 |
| 23 | New York | $48,110 | 0% | $36,410 | $60,490 | 19,800 |
| 24 | Ohio | $47,970 | 0% | $36,870 | $78,000 | 12,150 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $47,930 | 0% | $38,040 | $61,430 | 12,080 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $47,900 | 0% | $38,190 | $60,310 | 1,290 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $47,730 | −1% | $35,600 | $62,050 | 4,530 |
| 28 | Florida | $47,620 | −1% | $37,800 | $58,880 | 26,620 |
| 29 | Delaware | $47,600 | −1% | $36,410 | $56,840 | 990 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $47,520 | −1% | $39,500 | $58,840 | 7,760 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $47,320 | −2% | $37,070 | $58,480 | 5,530 |
| 32 | Nevada | $47,110 | −2% | $36,870 | $56,700 | 4,230 |
| 33 | Georgia | $46,840 | −3% | $36,410 | $57,710 | 10,540 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $46,720 | −3% | $37,810 | $61,260 | 7,420 |
| 35 | Montana | $46,680 | −3% | $37,340 | $57,900 | 1,450 |
| 36 | Virginia | $46,670 | −3% | $37,720 | $58,910 | 10,760 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $46,660 | −3% | $37,810 | $57,430 | 2,520 |
| 38 | Missouri | $45,970 | −4% | $36,580 | $59,410 | 6,760 |
| 39 | Idaho | $45,880 | −5% | $37,430 | $59,740 | 2,680 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $45,740 | −5% | $36,030 | $58,430 | 4,550 |
| 41 | Texas | $45,430 | −5% | $35,400 | $57,640 | 33,230 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $44,990 | −6% | $35,530 | $57,110 | 630 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $44,720 | −7% | $31,540 | $50,340 | 1,960 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $44,400 | −8% | $37,060 | $55,950 | 2,150 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $44,090 | −8% | $31,050 | $49,640 | 4,540 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $42,830 | −11% | $35,060 | $48,330 | 2,950 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $39,160 | −19% | $30,650 | $58,620 | 3,080 |
| 48 | Alabama | $39,080 | −19% | $30,840 | $51,400 | 3,740 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $37,960 | −21% | $31,760 | $52,630 | 1,290 |
| 50 | Utah | $37,760 | −21% | $35,380 | $47,680 | 6,640 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Dental Assistants salary questions
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota, with a median of $65,270 a year (+36% vs. the national median of $48,070). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays dental assistants the least?
Utah, with a median of $37,760 a year (−21% vs. national).
Where do most dental assistants work?
California has the most jobs, about 56,220, with a median of $50,110.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.