Dental Hygienists
Median wage · national
$98,100
Range: $84K – $108K
Employed
223K
Openings/yr
15K
Typically: associate's degree
HEALTH
Dental Assistant
Dental Assistant earn $48,070 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $44,340 and $58,090. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Dental Assistant
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a dental assistant: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Dental Support Services and Allied Professions and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
- Median Wage
- $48,070
- Employed Nationally
- 388K
- Openings / Year
- 53,000
- Entry Education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Certified Registered Dental Assistant
Dental Aide
Dental Assistant (DA)
Dental Nurse
How Much Do Dental Assistants Make?
Most dental assistants take home around $48,070 a year, below what most graduates with a bachelor's make. Half earn somewhere between $44,340 and $58,090, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Think carefully about how much debt is worth taking on for it. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$48,070
National Median (Annual)
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$44K–$58K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$44,340
Entry-level
$48,070
Median
$58,090
Experienced
What Do Dental Assistants Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Social Perceptiveness
Instructing
Who Thrives Here
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Dental Assistants Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Dental Assistants?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +7.4%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 53,000 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +7.4%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
53,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
388K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Dental Assistant professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $48,070 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 56,220 | $50,110 | +4.2% |
| 2 | Texas | 33,230 | $45,430 | -5.5% |
| 3 | Florida | 26,620 | $47,620 | -0.9% |
| 4 | New York | 19,800 | $48,110 | +0.1% |
| 5 | Illinois | 13,740 | $48,610 | +1.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a postsecondary nondegree award. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
Typical Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 25,040 | $68,061 | 814 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Dental Assistants
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 3 | Institute of Medical Careers Pittsburgh, PA | 86 | $21,392 | — |
| 4 | South Florida State College Avon Park, FL | 86 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| 5 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL | 85 | $1,808 | $38,129 |
| 6 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL | 84 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Dental Assistant, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Dental Assistant pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Dental Assistant Pros & Cons
The data on Dental Assistant shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +7.4% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- Wide job market 388K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
- Strong annual demand 53,000 job openings per year creates consistent hiring volume even in slower economic cycles. Entry-level candidates have real options throughout the year.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Modest median salary At $48,070 median, this career lags STEM and business fields. High-cost degree programs may be difficult to justify on salary alone.
Dental Assistant Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Dental Assistant professionals earn?
Around $48,070 a year for the typical worker, below the national median, program ROI depends heavily on keeping tuition costs low. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,340 and $58,090. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Dental Assistant a good career?
Dental Assistant involves trade-offs worth understanding before committing. At $48,070 median, programs with high tuition are difficult to justify on salary return alone. Prioritize in-state public schools or employer-sponsored pathways. Job growth is projected at +7.4% through 2035. Genuine interest in the work, not just the salary, matters most here.
How do I become a Dental Assistant?
Most Dental Assistant positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Dental Support Services and Allied Professions are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Dental Assistant?
Employment is projected to change by +7.4% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 53,000 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 388K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Dental Assistant professionals need?
Mainly Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, and Instructing. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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