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.
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.
Also known as:
Dental Assistant earn $48,070 nationally, below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,340 and $58,090. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Dental Assistant roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily 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.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +6.4% employment change for Dental Assistant through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 52,900 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
About as fast as average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
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 | 54,580 | $48,910 | +1.7% |
| 2 | Texas | 31,360 | $42,270 | -12.1% |
| 3 | Florida | 23,020 | $47,060 | -2.1% |
| 4 | New York | 19,700 | $47,020 | -2.2% |
| 5 | Illinois | 15,620 | $47,430 | -1.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Dental Assistant positions require a postsecondary nondegree award to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 25,040 | $68,061 | 814 |
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 |
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.
See if the degree that leads to Dental Assistant pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
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.
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