Estimating earning potential in the dental assisting career pathway
If you’re looking for a new career path in a rewarding field, dental assisting can be a great place to start.
You can potentially earn a good salary in the job itself or use it as a springboard to advance to further career opportunities.
How much dental assistants are paid can depend on many factors, including required education, professional experience, specific roles and responsibilities, and state of employment.
Average salary by state
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dental assistants earn an average annual salary of $44,710 per year ($21.50 per hour) across all U.S. states.*
| Average salary | Median salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Per hour | Per year | Per hour | Per year |
| Alabama | $18.14 | $37,720 | $17.37 | $36,120 |
| Alaska | $25.21 | $52,430 | $23.64 | $49,170 |
| Arizona | $21.45 | $44,610 | $22.11 | $45,990 |
| Arkansas | $17.58 | $36,570 | $17.47 | $36,330 |
| California | $23.55 | $48,990 | $22.20 | $46,170 |
| Colorado | $22.28 | $46,350 | $21.87 | $45,490 |
| Connecticut | $23.20 | $48,260 | $23.02 | $47,870 |
| Delaware | $25.24 | $52,500 | $22.12 | $46,000 |
| District of Columbia | $25.39 | $52,820 | $24.80 | $51,580 |
| Florida | $20.51 | $42,650 | $20.35 | $42,330 |
| Georgia | $19.79 | $41,160 | $18.99 | $39,500 |
| Hawaii | $19.03 | $39,590 | $18.49 | $38,450 |
| Idaho | $18.68 | $38,840 | $17.65 | $36,720 |
| Illinois | $19.85 | $41,290 | $18.39 | $38,240 |
| Indiana | $21.11 | $43,920 | $21.76 | $45,270 |
| Iowa | $21.95 | $45,650 | $22.44 | $46,660 |
| Kansas | $18.75 | $39,000 | $18.35 | $38,170 |
| Kentucky | $19.44 | $40,430 | $18.94 | $39,400 |
| Louisiana | $17.40 | $36,180 | $16.91 | $35,180 |
| Maine | $22.38 | $46,560 | $22.40 | $46,600 |
| Maryland | $21.66 | $45,060 | $22.14 | $46,040 |
| Massachusetts | $25.10 | $52,200 | $23.14 | $48,140 |
| Michigan | $20.21 | $42,040 | $20.61 | $42,870 |
| Minnesota | $28.31 | $58,890 | $29.24 | $60,810 |
| Mississippi | $17.77 | $36,960 | $17.05 | $35,470 |
| Missouri | $20.32 | $42,260 | $20.41 | $42,450 |
| Montana | $19.55 | $40,670 | $18.46 | $38,390 |
| Nebraska | $20.35 | $42,330 | $20.94 | $43,560 |
| Nevada | $19.83 | $41,240 | $21.66 | $45,050 |
| New Hampshire | $24.14 | $50,220 | $23.86 | $49,630 |
| New Jersey | $22.31 | $46,410 | $22.26 | $46,290 |
| New Mexico | $19.04 | $39,610 | $18.32 | $38,110 |
| New York | $23.02 | $47,880 | $22.25 | $46,280 |
| North Carolina | $21.95 | $45,650 | $22.18 | $46,140 |
| North Dakota | $24.70 | $51,370 | $24.02 | $49,960 |
| Ohio | $22.53 | $46,860 | $21.62 | $44,980 |
| Oklahoma | $19.60 | $40,770 | $18.71 | $38,920 |
| Oregon | $25.00 | $51,990 | $24.09 | $50,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $21.51 | $44,740 | $21.71 | $45,160 |
| Rhode Island | $21.32 | $44,340 | $20.94 | $43,550 |
| South Carolina | $20.71 | $43,070 | $21.02 | $43,710 |
| South Dakota | $21.05 | $43,790 | $22.07 | $45,910 |
| Tennessee | $19.71 | $40,990 | $18.44 | $38,360 |
| Texas | $18.83 | $39,170 | $18.06 | $37,570 |
| Utah | $17.83 | $37,080 | $17.75 | $36,910 |
| Vermont | $24.74 | $51,460 | $24.00 | $49,910 |
| Virginia | $21.63 | $44,980 | $21.93 | $45,620 |
| Washington | $24.24 | $50,430 | $23.71 | $49,320 |
| West Virginia | $18.04 | $37,510 | $17.02 | $35,400 |
| Wisconsin | $21.22 | $44,140 | $21.77 | $45,280 |
| Wyoming | $20.06 | $41,720 | $18.49 | $38,450 |
| Guam | $18.51 | $38,490 | $18.79 | $39,070 |
| Puerto Rico | $10.05 | $20,910 | $8.97 | $18,670 |
| Virgin Islands | $18.77 | $39,040 | $17.21 | $35,800 |
Comparing dental assisting to related healthcare professions
Dental assisting represents one of many types of healthcare jobs where you can earn a diploma or degree in 2 years or less, strongly qualify for your first entry-level position, and begin a career that’s full of possibilities.
Average pay for related positions
| Job / Career | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (BLS) | $26.86 | $55,860 |
| Medical Assistant (BLS) | $19.57 | $40,700 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer (BLS) | $21.61 | $44,940 |
| Radiologic Technologist (BLS) | $33.77 | $70,240 |
| Surgical Technologist (BLS) | $27.64 | $57,500 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||
Every career has its own requirements for education, licensure/certification, and experience before qualifying to practice.1
Looking ahead: career possibilities
If you’re considering dental assisting as a first step in a long-term career path, you may be considering positions in advanced dentistry in the future.
| Job / Career | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienist (BLS) | $40.80 | $84,860 |
| Dentist (BLS) | $82.83 | $172,290 |
| Orthodontist (BLS) | $104.00 | $216,320 |
All salary data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. | ||
Keep in mind becoming a dentist or orthodontist will require advanced education, typically a doctorate, in order to qualify to practice. If you have yet to work in the dental field, you have a long way to go before reaching this level of pay.
Dental assistants can begin advancing their career to dental hygienist by enrolling in a dental hygiene program. Those who hold an associate degree in dental assisting can potentially transfer gen ed credit into a bachelor’s degree program.
Classes Start May 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeFrequently Asked Questions
It can take less than 2 years to become a dental assistant well-prepared to succeed right from the start.
How much less depends on what educational pathway you choose. With Herzing University in Minneapolis you have two options:
- Diploma in Dental Assisting: 16 months (average)
- Associate of Applied Science in Dental Assisting: 20 months (average)
Once you’ve graduated, all that’s left is getting certified to position yourself best to find your first job in dental assisting.
Dental assistants help dentists deliver dental care to patients by taking on a mix of patient care and administrative duties. Their scope of practice depends on state regulations, but common responsibilities of a dental assistant include:
- Prepare patients for treatments and procedures
- Take x-rays
- Recordkeeping
- Scheduling appointments
- Assist patients in billing and payment
- Sterilizing instruments, and assisting dentists during procedures
- Taking medical history, blood pressure, and pulse before a procedure
- Talk to patients about proper oral hygiene
What dental assistants do on a daily basis depends on the specific roles and responsibilities included in the job description, which can vary by employer.
Dental assisting can be hard if it’s not the right type of job for your personality—or if you’re unprepared to succeed in the position.
Earning a formal education helps you build the knowledge and skills to be comfortable in the role right from the start.
Dental assisting can be a great career choice for the right type of person!
If you have good interpersonal, listening, and organizational skills, you have the potential to be an excellent dental assistant. Dental assistants can take on many types of tasks, and you must be prepared to be a versatile team player, eager to do whatever is needed to help things run smoothly.
Dental assistants typically enjoy regular office hours (evenings and/or weekends, in some cases), a variety of job duties, and a strong foundation of experience to advance their career in the future.
Enrolling in a diploma or degree program to become a dental assistant can really be worth it!
With Herzing University you are never alone in paying for dental assisting school. There are many potential options for financial aid, including loans, scholarships, VA/military benefits, and more. Please contact us for eligibility.
You can use the Herzing Tuition Wizard to determine the cost of tuition for our diploma or associate degree in dental assisting, available through our Minneapolis campus.
Start your new career now
Dental assisting represents a great way to get a fast start in the dental field, earn a good job, and build a strong foundation for your career in dentistry.
Your best bet to impress employers in the hiring process is to earn formal training in dental assisting and get certified.
We exist to help you get there.
If you live near Minneapolis, contact us to set up a time to discuss your bright future.
Learn more about our dental assisting program available at our Minneapolis campus
1. To view educational and licensure requirements in the state of Minnesota, please visit the Minnesota Board of Dentistry website.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2022 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
Classes Start May 6th
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Available at the Minneapolis campus only