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Dental assistant salary in United States

How much does a Dental Assistant make in the United States?

Average base salary

$23.34
Average $23.34
Low $17.40
High $31.32

The average salary for a dental assistant is $23.34 per hour in the United States. 109.6k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated September 7, 2026).

What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

A dental assistant's daily work assignments can vary depending on where they are employed. They may work with tools and equipment, patients, the dental team and administrative staff.A dental assistant's duties may include:
  • Educating patients on proper oral hygiene
  • Preparing, cleaning and sanitizing dental equipment and tools
  • Providing patient care and assistance before, during and after dental procedures
  • Assisting the dentist with laboratory tasks and procedures, such as taking and reading X-rays
  • Maintaining and organizing patient records and information about dental procedures
  • Scheduling patient cleanings, treatments and procedures
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Learn more about what a Dental Assistant does

Dental Assistant job openings in United States

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Registered Dental Assistant/Or...
Salem, OR
$30 - $35 an hour
2 hours ago

Highest paying companies for Dental Assistant in United States

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
ATA Services
 
$141,642per year
View company
Lassen Community College
 
$135,325per year
Rogue Community College
 
$123,458per year
Everforth CyberCoders
 
$122,500per year
Dream Dental Group
 
$120,640per year
Clackamas Community College
 
$120,411per year

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Highest paying cities for Dental Assistants near United States

  1. San Francisco, CA
    $29.99 per hour
  2. Denver, CO
    $25.83 per hour
  3. Irvine, CA
    $25.54 per hour
  4. Oceanside, CA
    $25.52 per hour
  5. Wilmington, DE
    $23.08 per hour

Where can a Dental Assistant earn more?

Compare salaries for Dental Assistants in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dental Assistant

How much do similar professions as Dental Assistant get paid in United States?

Senior Dental Assistant

Job openings
Average $22.44 per hour