Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Alabama | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $39,080 | $48,867 | -20% |
| Median hourly wage | $18.79 | $23.49 | -20% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $44,009.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in Alabama is $39,080, or about $18.79 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. Alabama is -20% below the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in Alabama typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 3,740 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $39,080, Alabama offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 513 of the 690 occupations reported in Alabama — higher than 26% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $62,250, Physical Therapist Assistants at $61,430, Massage Therapists at $48,930 — all figures are median annual wages for Alabama.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Alabama levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 88.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 513 of the 690 occupations reported in Alabama — higher than 26% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Alabama | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $62,250 | $750 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $61,430 | $2,700 |
| Massage Therapists | $48,930 | $600 |
| Phlebotomists | $37,220 | $2,350 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $36,760 | $660 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $36,260 | $460 |
Alabama levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 88.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 690 occupations in Alabama.