Dental Assistant Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) dental assistant in the US earns $23.11 an hour, or $48,070 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 387,790 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,340 and $58,090 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $62,250.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $40,804 a year ($3,400 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Minnesota ($50,701 a year) and lowest in Utah ($30,968).
Dental Assistant pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $17.85 | $37,130 | $32,014 |
| 25th percentile | $21.32 | $44,340 | $37,807 |
| Median (half earn more) | $23.11 | $48,070 | $40,804 |
| 75th percentile | $27.93 | $58,090 | $48,855 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $29.93 | $62,250 | $52,198 |
The average (mean) is $50,200 a year ($24.13 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 31-9091. Source
Dental Assistant salary by state
The highest median pay for dental assistants is in Minnesota ($65,270), District of Columbia ($60,590), Maine ($60,070), New Hampshire ($59,530), Oregon ($59,490). The lowest is in Utah ($37,770), West Virginia ($37,960), Alabama ($39,080).
The most dental assistants work in California (56,220), Texas (33,230), Florida (26,620).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Minnesota ($50,701), New Hampshire ($50,012), North Dakota ($48,606), Alaska ($48,253), Washington ($48,050). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $18.79 | $39,080 | $31,992 | 3,740 |
| Alaska | $27.74 | $57,700 | $48,253 | 1,140 |
| Arizona | $23.56 | $49,000 | $40,571 | 8,680 |
| Arkansas | $20.59 | $42,830 | $35,497 | 2,950 |
| California | $24.09 | $50,110 | $40,641 | 56,220 |
| Colorado | $23.24 | $48,340 | $38,924 | 8,360 |
| Connecticut | $27.33 | $56,850 | $45,413 | 3,840 |
| Delaware | $22.89 | $47,610 | $38,279 | 990 |
| District of Columbia | $29.13 | $60,590 | $50,864* | 630 |
| Florida | $22.89 | $47,610 | $40,435 | 26,620 |
| Georgia | $22.52 | $46,840 | $38,227 | 10,540 |
| Hawaii | $21.50 | $44,720 | $35,982 | 1,960 |
| Idaho | $22.06 | $45,880 | $37,458 | 2,680 |
| Illinois | $23.37 | $48,610 | $38,977 | 13,740 |
| Indiana | $23.40 | $48,670 | $38,917 | 6,690 |
| Iowa | $23.28 | $48,420 | $39,780 | 3,210 |
| Kentucky | $22.95 | $47,740 | $38,986 | 4,530 |
| Louisiana | $21.20 | $44,100 | $36,650 | 4,540 |
| Maine | $28.88 | $60,070 | $47,572 | 1,550 |
| Maryland | $23.38 | $48,630 | $37,913 | 6,560 |
| Massachusetts | $27.88 | $57,990 | $46,050 | 9,680 |
| Michigan | $23.47 | $48,820 | $39,582 | 11,990 |
| Minnesota | $31.38 | $65,270 | $50,701 | 5,980 |
| Mississippi | $18.83 | $39,170 | $32,821 | 3,080 |
| Missouri | $22.10 | $45,970 | $37,895 | 6,760 |
| Montana | $22.44 | $46,680 | $38,257 | 1,450 |
| Nebraska | $22.43 | $46,650 | $38,137 | 2,520 |
| Nevada | $22.65 | $47,110 | $40,033 | 4,230 |
| New Hampshire | $28.62 | $59,530 | $50,012 | 1,600 |
| New Jersey | $23.74 | $49,380 | $40,061 | 9,990 |
| New Mexico | $21.35 | $44,410 | $36,564 | 2,150 |
| New York | $23.13 | $48,110 | $38,564 | 19,800 |
| North Carolina | $24.22 | $50,380 | $41,126 | 11,450 |
| North Dakota | $27.78 | $57,780 | $48,606 | 860 |
| Ohio | $23.06 | $47,960 | $39,663 | 12,150 |
| Oklahoma | $21.99 | $45,740 | $37,424 | 4,550 |
| Oregon | $28.60 | $59,490 | $45,629 | 5,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.05 | $47,940 | $39,194 | 12,080 |
| Rhode Island | $24.11 | $50,150 | $40,081 | 1,050 |
| South Carolina | $22.75 | $47,320 | $38,602 | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $23.03 | $47,900 | $40,668 | 1,290 |
| Tennessee | $22.46 | $46,720 | $39,719 | 7,420 |
| Texas | $21.84 | $45,430 | $38,683 | 33,230 |
| Utah | $18.16 | $37,770 | $30,968 | 6,640 |
| Vermont | $25.37 | $52,770 | $43,067 | 580 |
| Virginia | $22.44 | $46,680 | $37,818 | 10,760 |
| Washington | $27.93 | $58,090 | $48,050 | 13,050 |
| West Virginia | $18.25 | $37,960 | $31,702 | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $22.85 | $47,530 | $38,346 | 7,760 |
| Wyoming | $21.63 | $44,990 | $38,329 | 630 |
Overtime and pay rules for dental assistants
Dental assistants who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a dental assistant's pay
On the median $48,070, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 15.1% of pay for a single filer: $3,589 of income tax and $3,677 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $31,970, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,404 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $289, so it costs about $2,115 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed dental assistants are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sterile Processing Tech | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Vet Tech | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Pharmacy Tech | $45,750 | $22 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $23 an hour is how much a year.
Dental Assistant salary questions
How much does a dental assistant make?
The median pay is $23.11 an hour, or $48,070 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $37,130 and the top 10% more than $62,250.
How much does a dental assistant make after taxes?
About $40,804 a year, or $1,569 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In Utah, at that state's own median pay, it is about $30,968.
How much does a dental assistant make a month?
About $4,006 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,400 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota, with a median of $65,270 a year ($31.38 an hour). Next are District of Columbia ($60,590) and Maine ($60,070). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Minnesota.
How much does a dental assistant make an hour?
The median is $23.11 an hour. The middle half earn $21.32 to $27.93, and the top 10% more than $29.93.
Do dental assistants get paid overtime?
Dental assistants who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.