Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Colorado | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $48,340 | $48,867 | -1% |
| Median hourly wage | $23.24 | $23.49 | -1% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $46,887.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in Colorado is $48,340, or about $23.24 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. Colorado is -1% below the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in Colorado typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 8,360 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $48,340, Colorado offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 565 of the 738 occupations reported in Colorado — higher than 23% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $75,340, Physical Therapist Assistants at $64,810, Massage Therapists at $61,060 — all figures are median annual wages for Colorado.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Colorado 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 105.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 565 of the 738 occupations reported in Colorado — higher than 23% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Colorado | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $75,340 | $710 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $64,810 | $1,350 |
| Massage Therapists | $61,060 | $3,950 |
| Medical Assistants | $48,400 | $13,160 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $47,700 | $1,950 |
| Nursing Assistants | $47,380 | $22,240 |
Colorado 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 105.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 738 occupations in Colorado.