Are you considering working as a dental assistant? Or are you already in the dental field working as an assistant?
Either way. . .
It can be rewarding and fast-paced, with a wide range of duties.
One of the advantages of becoming a dental assistant is observing your dentist in action! With this, Dental Assistants can potentially study new things while also learning new processes that will help them improve their expertise. Other advantages of becoming a dental assistant are:
- Fast training
- Helping others
- Work flexibility
- Fast workdays
- Career growth projection
- Advancement opportunities (Many hygenists have been known to start their career in the dental field as dental assistants.).
Of course, if you're reading this, you're probably wondering what states have the highest pay for dental assistants, and we'll definitely cover that!
You might also be thinking about how much a dental assistant makes per hour, per month, and per year in top states. We'll cover some of that too.
So. Let's get started and dive right into the top ten highest-paying states for dental assistants. . .
What states pay dental assistants the highest?
We've put up a list of the top 10 highest-paying states for dental assistants, along with employment rates, hourly averages, and mean annual incomes. You may also see a list of the top states that pay Dental Assistants fairly! You might also want to check out our dental assistant salaries or our 2023 list of highest-paying dental jobs.
1. Minnesota
Minnesota came in first with a mean hourly income of $25.80, an annual mean wage of $53,670, and 5,110 Dental Assistants employed.
2. Massachusetts
Massachusetts comes in second with 6,020 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $24.88, and an annual mean salary of $51,750.
3. Alaska
Alaska came in third with 920 employed Dental Assistants; with a $24.63 hourly mean compensation and a $51,230 hourly mean salary.
4. New Hampshire
New Hampshire is in fourth place, with 1,150 Dental Assistants employed, a mean hourly wage of $24.43, and an annual mean wage of $50,820.
5. Oregon
Oregon placed in fifth place, with 4,550 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $23.23, and annual mean compensation of $48,320.
6. North Dakota
North Dakota is in sixth place, with 770 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $22.79, and an annual mean wage of $47,390.
7. Washington
With 9,390 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly compensation of $22.45, and an annual mean salary of $46,690, Washington came in seventh place.
8. Rhode Island
Rhode Island is ranked eighth with 730 employed Dental Assistants; a $22.38 hourly mean compensation and a $46,560 annual mean salary.
9. Vermont
With 290 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $22.02, and annual mean compensation of $45,810, Vermont came in ninth.
10. New Jersey
New Jersey came in 10th place with 8,020 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $21.81, and an annual mean salary of $45,370.
Now that we have covered the 10 top paying states, let's take a look at the top 10 highest metropolitan areas for dental assistants. . .
Top 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas for dental assistants
1. Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa, CA, was the top-paying metropolitan area for dental assistants, with 670 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $28.16, and an annual mean salary of $58,570.
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
With 3,390 employed Dental Assistants, $27.04 hourly mean compensation, and $56,240 annual mean salary, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI is in second place.
3. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA came in third with 420 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $26.23 and an annual mean wage of $54,550.
4. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, took fourth place with 2,820 employed Dental Assistants, $26.08 hourly mean wage, and $54,250 yearly mean compensation.
5. Bismarck, ND
Bismarck, ND is in fifth place, with 160 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $25.77, and an annual wage of $53,600.
6. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
With 5,630 employed Dental Assistants, a $25.72 hourly mean compensation and a $53,510 annual mean salary, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA took sixth place.
7. Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH, on the other hand, came in seventh with 4,440 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $25.60, and an annual mean wage of $53,250.
8. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA was ranked eighth, with 350 employed Dental assistants, a mean hourly compensation of $25.52, and an annual mean salary of $53,080.
9. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA took ninth place, with 440 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $25.22, and an annual mean salary of $52,460.
10. Rochester, MN
Rochester, MN is in the bottom place, with 300 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $25.10, and an annual wage of $52,210.
Finally, let's go over the 10 highest-paying nonmetropolitan areas for dental assistants.
Top 10 highest-paying Nonmetropolitan Areas for dental assistants
1. Alaska nonmetropolitan area
With 390 employed Dental Assistants, a $27.44 hourly mean compensation, and a $57,080 annual mean salary, Alaska nonmetropolitan region takes the top rank.
2. South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area
The second place goes to the South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area, which has 330 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $25.85, and an annual mean salary of $53,760.
3. North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area
With 280 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly compensation of $24.47, and an annual mean salary of $50,900, the North Coast Region of California's nonmetropolitan area came in third.
4. Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area
With 230 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly compensation of $24.15, and an annual mean salary of $50,230, the Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California's nonmetropolitan area came in fourth.
5. Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area
Southeast Minnesota's nonmetropolitan area took fifth place, with 280 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $23.93, and annual mean compensation of $49,770.
6. West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area
The nonmetropolitan area of West Central-Southwest New Hampshire came in sixth with 200 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $23.87, and annual mean compensation of $49,650.
7. Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area
Seventh place goes to the Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area, which has 210 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly compensation of $23.72, and an annual mean salary of $49,330.
8. Connecticut nonmetropolitan area
The eighth slot goes to a nonmetropolitan location in Connecticut with 50 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $23.71, and an annual wage of $49,320.
9. Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area
With 270 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly compensation of $22.74, and an annual mean salary of $47,300, the nonmetropolitan area of Southwest Minnesota came in second to last.
10. Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area
The nonmetropolitan area of Northeast Minnesota took the final slot, with 80 employed Dental Assistants, a mean hourly wage of $22.70, and an annual mean salary of $47,220.
Next Steps
Since you now know which states pay the highest for Dental Assistants, you might be interested in reading the following articles related to Dental Assistants:
- A Day in the Life of a Dental Assistant
- Dental Assistant Resume Skills List
- Skills to Include on Dental Assistant Resume
- Why Dexterity is Important for Dental Assistant
FAQs
What exactly does a dental assistant do?
Answer: Dental assistants give patients care, and chair-side support as dentists finish exams and procedures. People may notice dental assistants passing equipment, but it is only the start of their technical abilities.
How much do dental assistants make in an hour?
Answer: The dental assistant's hourly rate depends on the state and years of experience.
However, in Bureau Labor and Statics report, the hourly median pay of Dental Assistants is $19.80, and the annual median pay is $41,180.
What pays more, dental assistant or hygienist?
Without a doubt, hygienists are paid more than dental assistants.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2020, the hygienists brought home an annual median salary of $77,090, while dental assistants' median annual wage was $41,180. In short, the hygienists' salary is nearly double that of dental assistants.
What are the top 3 best-paying states for dental assistants?
The top 3 states that pay Dental Assistants the highest annual mean salary are Minnesota ($53,670), Massachusetts ($51,750), and Alaska ($51,230).
Does a dental assistant clean teeth?
Answer: No, a dental assistant does not clean teeth.
Dental assistants and dental hygienists are often confused. While hygienists clean teeth and remove plaque and tartar, dental assistants are not responsible for these tasks.
Can a dental assistant draw blood?
Answer: Dental assistants are not licensed to perform this task.
Reference:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319091.htm
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