As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Dental Assistant in the United States is $41,722. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $35,918 to a high of $49,142, with most professionals earning between $38,684 and $45,606.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $45,606 | $3,801 | $877 | $22 |
| Average | $41,722 | $3,477 | $802 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,684 | $3,224 | $744 | $19 |
An entry-level Dental Assistant with less than 1 year of experience earns about $41,178. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $41,838. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $43,461. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $43,635, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $43,751.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Dental Assistant | $41,178 |
| Intermediate Level Dental Assistant | $41,838 |
| Senior Level Dental Assistant | $43,461 |
| Specialist Level Dental Assistant | $43,635 |
| Expert Level Dental Assistant | $43,751 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 5% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Dental Assistant compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $44,740 in 2023 to approximately $44,704 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Dental Assistant salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Dental Assistant information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Dental Assistant job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Dental Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $41,722 | 68.3% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $3,192 | 5.2% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,044 | 3.3% | ||
| Disability | $668 | 1.1% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 10.4% | ||
| Pension | $1,752 | 2.9% | ||
| Time Off | $5,295 | 8.7% | ||
| Total Compensation | $61,044 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.7% |
| High School | 78.4% |
| Associates | 14.5% |
| Bachelors | 5.9% |
| Masters | 0.4% |
| Doctorate | 0.2% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Dental Assistant is $41,722. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Dental Assistant is $20; the average weekly pay of Dental Assistant is $802; the average monthly pay of Dental Assistant is $3,477.
A Dental Assistant's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Dental Assistant earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Dental Assistant is $52,624.
The highest pay for Dental Assistant is $49,142.
The lowest pay for Dental Assistant is $35,918.
Assists with dental surgical and other procedures under the direct supervision of a dentist. Prepares patient and arranges instruments and supplies used for procedures. Hands instruments to the dentist and helps during treatment. Ensures all instruments are sterile and follows infection control protocols. Records treatment notes and updates patient records. May take and process x-rays. May require an associate degree in dental assisting or equivalent. Has Basic Life Support (BLS) and depending on state, may have licensing requirement. Typically reports to a dentist. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Pediatric: Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Front Office: The front office represents the customer-facing division of a firm. For example, customer service, sales, and industry experts who provide advisory services are considered part of a firm's front office operations.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
