Average Dental Assistant Salary by State in 2026: All 50 States

Written By Alexander Fleiss

Average Dental Assistant Salary by State in 2026: All 50 States

Dental assisting is a growing healthcare career, but salaries can vary substantially depending on where a dental assistant works. In 2026, the most recent nationwide wage data available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) comes from the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

According to the BLS, dental assistants had a national median annual wage of $48,070 in May 2025, while the national mean annual wage was $50,200. The occupation employed approximately 387,790 people nationwide.

The table below shows the average, or mean, annual wage for dental assistants in all 50 states based on the latest available BLS data.

Average Dental Assistant Salary by State

StateAverage Annual SalaryAverage HourlyWage

Alabama$41,710$20.05Alaska$55,220$26.55Arizona$50,280$24.17Arkansas$42,130$20.25California$54,710$26.30Colorado$50,230$24.15Connecticut$53,970$25.95Delaware$47,520$22.85Florida$48,500$23.32Georgia$46,870$22.53Hawaii$43,180$20.76Idaho$47,250$22.72Illinois$48,990$23.56Indiana$50,480$24.27Iowa$50,450$24.25KansasN/AN/AKentucky$48,440$23.29Louisiana$42,540$20.45Maine$57,140$27.47Maryland$50,720$24.39Massachusetts$56,640$27.23Michigan$49,650$23.87Minnesota$64,740$31.13Mississippi$42,910$20.63Missouri$46,790$22.49Montana$47,180$22.68Nebraska$46,430$22.32Nevada$45,880$22.06New Hampshire$57,200$27.50New Jersey$52,940$25.45New Mexico$45,130$21.70New York$49,820$23.95North Carolina$51,510$24.76North Dakota$56,450$27.14Ohio$52,370$25.18Oklahoma$44,790$21.53Oregon$60,110$28.90Pennsylvania$50,130$24.10Rhode Island$52,790$25.38South Carolina$47,310$22.74South Dakota$50,170$24.12Tennessee$49,670$23.88Texas$44,830$21.55Utah$40,550$19.49Vermont$54,550$26.23Virginia$47,490$22.83Washington$56,680$27.25West Virginia$41,280$19.85Wisconsin$49,150$23.63Wyoming$44,100$21.20

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Kansas did not have a published dental-assistant compensation estimate in the May 2025 state data.

Which States Pay Dental Assistants the Most?

Minnesota has the highest reported average dental assistant salary among the states, at approximately $64,740 per year, or $31.13 per hour.

Oregon follows at approximately $60,110, while Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, Massachusetts and North Dakota also have mean annual wages above $56,000.

At the other end of the table, Utah has a mean annual wage of approximately $40,550, followed by West Virginia at $41,280 and Alabama at $41,710.

The difference between states demonstrates why location is an important consideration for anyone entering the dental assisting profession.

How Much Do Dental Assistants Make in New York?

New York dental assistants had a reported mean annual wage of approximately $49,820 in the May 2025 data, equivalent to about $23.95 per hour.

New York's figure is close to the national median but below the national mean. Actual salaries in New York can vary considerably by metropolitan area, experience, specialty and credentials.

New York City, for example, has its own labor market and compensation levels that can differ from the statewide average.

Does Certification Affect Dental Assistant Salary?

Geography is only one factor affecting dental assistant compensation.

Education, experience, certification, expanded functions, dental specialty and employer type can all influence pay.

A Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), for example, may have access to opportunities that require or prefer national certification. Expanded-function credentials can also increase the range of clinical duties an assistant may perform in states where those functions are authorized.

For students considering dental assisting as a career, it is therefore useful to look beyond a single statewide salary number.

Dental Assistant Salary vs. Median Salary

It is important to understand the difference between mean and median wages.

The mean is calculated by adding all reported wages and dividing by the number of workers. The median is the midpoint: half of workers earn more and half earn less.

The BLS reported a $48,070 median annual wage for dental assistants in May 2025, compared with a $50,200 national mean. The BLS also reported that the lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,130, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,250.

For someone researching a career, all three figures can be useful.

Dental Assisting Career Outlook

The salary figures are particularly relevant because dental assisting continues to have a positive employment outlook.

The BLS projects dental-assistant employment to grow 7 percent from 2025 through 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. The agency projects approximately 53,000 openings per year over that period, including positions created by employment growth and replacement needs.

For students considering dental assisting school, salary should therefore be evaluated alongside education requirements, certification opportunities, state regulations, cost of living and local employment demand.

Final Thoughts

Dental assistant salaries vary significantly across the United States. The latest BLS data shows mean annual wages ranging from approximately $40,550 in Utah to $64,740 in Minnesota among states with published 2025 estimates.

For prospective dental assistants, the statewide average is only a starting point. Experience, credentials, specialty and metropolitan location can all affect actual compensation.

For New York students, understanding the statewide salary data alongside New York's licensing and education requirements can provide a clearer picture of the career path.

Sources

Alexander Fleiss
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