Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Arkansas | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $42,830 | $48,867 | -12% |
| Median hourly wage | $20.59 | $23.49 | -12% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $49,287.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in Arkansas is $42,830, or about $20.59 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. Arkansas is -12% below the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in Arkansas typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 2,950 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $42,830, Arkansas offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 441 of the 673 occupations reported in Arkansas — higher than 34% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $78,940, Physical Therapist Assistants at $64,520, Massage Therapists at $39,990 — all figures are median annual wages for Arkansas.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Arkansas 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 87.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 441 of the 673 occupations reported in Arkansas — higher than 34% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Arkansas | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $78,940 | $730 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $64,520 | $1,620 |
| Massage Therapists | $39,990 | $430 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $38,100 | $320 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $38,040 | $790 |
| Medical Assistants | $37,760 | $5,150 |
Arkansas 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 87.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 673 occupations in Arkansas.