Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Dental assistants (SOC 31-9091) employed 387,790 people in May 2025. The median pay is $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,130 and the highest-paid 10% more than $62,250. BLS projects its employment to change by +7.4% between 2025 and 2035 (about 53,000 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: Minnesota ($65,270), District of Columbia ($60,580), Maine ($60,070). Most jobs: California (56,220), Texas (33,230), Florida (26,620).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| Median | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Mean | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| 75th percentile | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $62,250 | $29.93 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 388,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 417,400 |
| Change in jobs | 28,800 |
| Percent change | +7.4% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 53,000 |
| Self-employed share | 0.1% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3,740 | 0.71 | $39,080 | $30,840 | $51,400 | -19% | 33% |
| Alaska | 1,140 | 1.40 | $57,710 | $40,300 | $62,780 | +20% | 30% |
| Arizona | 8,680 | 1.07 | $49,000 | $38,500 | $59,380 | +2% | 41% |
| Arkansas | 2,950 | 0.91 | $42,830 | $35,060 | $48,330 | -11% | 28% |
| California | 56,220 | 1.24 | $50,110 | $38,790 | $73,700 | +4% | 50% |
| Colorado | 8,360 | 1.17 | $48,340 | $38,500 | $60,540 | +1% | 45% |
| Connecticut | 3,840 | 0.91 | $56,850 | $38,630 | $60,900 | +18% | 33% |
| Delaware | 990 | 0.82 | $47,600 | $36,410 | $56,840 | -1% | 39% |
| District of Columbia | 630 | 0.36 | $60,580 | $47,530 | $74,960 | +26% | 38% |
| Florida | 26,620 | 1.07 | $47,620 | $37,800 | $58,880 | -1% | 46% |
| Georgia | 10,540 | 0.86 | $46,840 | $36,410 | $57,710 | -3% | 39% |
| Hawaii | 1,960 | 1.25 | $44,720 | $31,540 | $50,340 | -7% | 52% |
| Idaho | 2,680 | 1.25 | $45,880 | $37,430 | $59,740 | -5% | 36% |
| Illinois | 13,740 | 0.90 | $48,610 | $37,360 | $59,910 | +1% | 33% |
| Indiana | 6,690 | 0.84 | $48,670 | $36,880 | $60,590 | +1% | 27% |
| Iowa | 3,210 | 0.83 | $48,430 | $39,360 | $59,580 | +1% | 24% |
| Kentucky | 4,530 | 0.91 | $47,730 | $35,600 | $62,050 | -1% | 25% |
| Louisiana | 4,540 | 0.94 | $44,090 | $31,050 | $49,640 | -8% | 29% |
| Maine | 1,550 | 0.97 | $60,070 | $47,290 | $62,660 | +25% | 24% |
| Maryland | 6,560 | 0.95 | $48,620 | $35,560 | $61,710 | +1% | 42% |
| Massachusetts | 9,680 | 1.07 | $57,980 | $47,270 | $72,790 | +21% | 38% |
| Michigan | 11,990 | 1.09 | $48,820 | $37,110 | $58,900 | +2% | 29% |
| Minnesota | 5,980 | 0.81 | $65,270 | $46,960 | $76,110 | +36% | 24% |
| Mississippi | 3,080 | 1.06 | $39,160 | $30,650 | $58,620 | -19% | 30% |
| Missouri | 6,760 | 0.92 | $45,970 | $36,580 | $59,410 | -4% | 28% |
| Montana | 1,450 | 1.14 | $46,680 | $37,340 | $57,900 | -3% | 30% |
| Nebraska | 2,520 | 0.99 | $46,660 | $37,810 | $57,430 | -3% | 28% |
| Nevada | 4,230 | 1.09 | $47,110 | $36,870 | $56,700 | -2% | 44% |
| New Hampshire | 1,600 | 0.94 | $59,530 | $47,820 | $64,360 | +24% | 31% |
| New Jersey | 9,990 | 0.93 | $49,390 | $38,660 | $64,200 | +3% | 44% |
| New Mexico | 2,150 | 0.99 | $44,400 | $37,060 | $55,950 | -8% | 30% |
| New York | 19,800 | 0.82 | $48,110 | $36,410 | $60,490 | +0% | 41% |
| North Carolina | 11,450 | 0.93 | $50,380 | $38,240 | $60,200 | +5% | 32% |
| North Dakota | 860 | 0.80 | $57,770 | $43,680 | $72,710 | +20% | 20% |
| Ohio | 12,150 | 0.88 | $47,970 | $36,870 | $78,000 | -0% | 27% |
| Oklahoma | 4,550 | 1.07 | $45,740 | $36,030 | $58,430 | -5% | 27% |
| Oregon | 5,930 | 1.21 | $59,490 | $49,010 | $75,570 | +24% | 32% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,080 | 0.80 | $47,930 | $38,040 | $61,430 | -0% | 31% |
| Rhode Island | 1,050 | 0.84 | $50,150 | $45,640 | $60,900 | +4% | 34% |
| South Carolina | 5,530 | 0.96 | $47,320 | $37,070 | $58,480 | -2% | 32% |
| South Dakota | 1,290 | 1.13 | $47,900 | $38,190 | $60,310 | -0% | 25% |
| Tennessee | 7,420 | 0.91 | $46,720 | $37,810 | $61,260 | -3% | 33% |
| Texas | 33,230 | 0.95 | $45,430 | $35,400 | $57,640 | -5% | 39% |
| Utah | 6,640 | 1.54 | $37,760 | $35,380 | $47,680 | -21% | 51% |
| Vermont | 580 | 0.77 | $52,760 | $45,260 | $66,410 | +10% | 30% |
| Virginia | 10,760 | 1.05 | $46,670 | $37,720 | $58,910 | -3% | 42% |
| Washington | 13,050 | 1.47 | $58,090 | $46,280 | $68,230 | +21% | 38% |
| West Virginia | 1,290 | 0.74 | $37,960 | $31,760 | $52,630 | -21% | 28% |
| Wisconsin | 7,760 | 1.06 | $47,520 | $39,500 | $58,840 | -1% | 29% |
| Wyoming | 630 | 0.90 | $44,990 | $35,530 | $57,110 | -6% | 27% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,870 | $74,600 | $55,670 | $81,710 | 1.01 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,910 | $72,370 | $46,920 | $76,280 | 0.80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,530 | $64,390 | $47,800 | $80,660 | 1.27 |
| Rochester, MN | 320 | $63,450 | $46,090 | $74,510 | 1.05 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 7,100 | $62,040 | $48,900 | $72,060 | 1.37 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 830 | $61,240 | $49,160 | $62,660 | 1.16 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 680 | $60,590 | $46,160 | $78,240 | 1.32 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,120 | $59,890 | $47,290 | $76,040 | 1.37 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 600 | $59,700 | $47,720 | $61,400 | 1.20 |
| Bend, OR | 420 | $59,590 | $43,900 | $73,030 | 1.56 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 310 | $59,390 | $45,550 | $70,710 | 0.98 |
| Salem, OR | 570 | $59,210 | $49,040 | $71,750 | 1.20 |
| Vallejo, CA | 630 | $59,000 | $45,400 | $77,300 | 1.75 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,250 | $58,930 | $37,000 | $62,000 | 1.55 |
| Boulder, CO | 520 | $58,760 | $46,530 | $73,010 | 1.08 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,850 | $58,750 | $40,410 | $64,390 | 1.00 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3,100 | $58,580 | $45,830 | $70,630 | 1.15 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 370 | $58,580 | $49,170 | $72,800 | 1.50 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 470 | $58,500 | $49,790 | $70,710 | 1.21 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 7,190 | $58,160 | $47,780 | $72,780 | 1.07 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,260 | $58,120 | $38,700 | $63,070 | 1.11 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 970 | $57,770 | $38,980 | $60,390 | 0.96 |
| Anchorage, AK | 640 | $57,710 | $40,280 | $62,710 | 1.45 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 470 | $57,400 | $38,520 | $63,010 | 0.78 |
| Medford, OR | 310 | $57,300 | $48,120 | $61,640 | 1.41 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 550 | $57,260 | $46,730 | $71,900 | 1.27 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 440 | $57,150 | $44,510 | $63,500 | 1.44 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 330 | $56,940 | $45,300 | $70,450 | 0.89 |
| Salinas, CA | 570 | $56,790 | $42,770 | $70,920 | 1.22 |
| Asheville, NC | 560 | $56,680 | $38,230 | $60,200 | 1.24 |
| New Haven, CT | 530 | $56,650 | $40,270 | $60,880 | 0.75 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,590 | $56,160 | $37,920 | $61,650 | 1.06 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 550 | $56,150 | $36,350 | $57,520 | 1.01 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 490 | $53,370 | $38,770 | $58,720 | 0.90 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 640 | $51,670 | $39,530 | $60,920 | 0.75 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 610 | $51,310 | $44,410 | $64,250 | 1.22 |
| Wilmington, NC | 600 | $51,110 | $37,980 | $59,530 | 1.26 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,000 | $50,980 | $45,550 | $61,980 | 1.57 |
| Worcester, MA | 880 | $50,720 | $40,580 | $61,810 | 1.01 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1,470 | $50,490 | $39,130 | $85,280 | 0.99 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,850 | $50,270 | $36,470 | $58,930 | 0.97 |
| Modesto, CA | 890 | $50,170 | $38,400 | $62,460 | 1.82 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 6,030 | $50,110 | $37,010 | $58,660 | 1.27 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3,540 | $50,060 | $39,010 | $59,820 | 1.05 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 480 | $50,060 | $38,370 | $59,260 | 0.70 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,360 | $50,040 | $45,160 | $60,190 | 1.15 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 660 | $50,020 | $44,810 | $59,990 | 0.66 |
| Madison, WI | 920 | $49,930 | $46,720 | $61,080 | 0.90 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 370 | $49,900 | $38,860 | $60,880 | 0.93 |
| Bellingham, WA | 410 | $49,830 | $46,610 | $61,250 | 1.81 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 470 | $49,800 | $45,760 | $60,940 | 1.99 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 800 | $49,800 | $38,650 | $57,840 | 0.88 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,270 | $49,760 | $40,420 | $59,380 | 1.06 |
| Springfield, MA | 610 | $49,690 | $41,890 | $59,670 | 1.22 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,440 | $49,590 | $37,840 | $77,420 | 0.89 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,510 | $49,570 | $40,040 | $69,250 | 0.90 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 520 | $49,540 | $45,920 | $61,370 | 1.61 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 460 | $49,520 | $36,600 | $56,410 | 1.40 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 4,160 | $49,490 | $38,870 | $60,780 | 1.04 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,650 | $49,460 | $44,700 | $60,510 | 0.92 |
The median is $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,130 and the highest-paid tenth over $62,250 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
387,790 in May 2025, and BLS projects +7.4% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
Minnesota, with a median of $65,270 (among states with published figures).