Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Kentucky | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $47,730 | $48,867 | -2% |
| Median hourly wage | $22.95 | $23.49 | -2% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $52,916.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in Kentucky is $47,730, or about $22.95 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. Kentucky is -2% below the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in Kentucky typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 4,530 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $47,730, Kentucky offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 453 of the 699 occupations reported in Kentucky — higher than 35% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $65,230, Physical Therapist Assistants at $61,480, Massage Therapists at $59,790 — all figures are median annual wages for Kentucky.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Kentucky 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 89.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 453 of the 699 occupations reported in Kentucky — higher than 35% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Kentucky | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $65,230 | $500 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $61,480 | $2,580 |
| Massage Therapists | $59,790 | $780 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $46,880 | $1,120 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $46,020 | $770 |
| Phlebotomists | $42,480 | $2,500 |
Kentucky 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 89.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 699 occupations in Kentucky.