Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| North Carolina | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $50,380 | $48,867 | +3% |
| Median hourly wage | $24.22 | $23.49 | +3% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $53,425.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in North Carolina is $50,380, or about $24.22 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. North Carolina is +3% above the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in North Carolina typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 11,450 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $50,380, North Carolina offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 425 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 43% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $69,390, Physical Therapist Assistants at $67,540, Occupational Therapy Aides at $66,190 — all figures are median annual wages for North Carolina.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. North Carolina 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 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 425 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 43% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in North Carolina | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $69,390 | $1,590 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $67,540 | $3,280 |
| Occupational Therapy Aides | $66,190 | $250 |
| Massage Therapists | $60,650 | $2,460 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $47,080 | $2,470 |
| Medical Assistants | $45,140 | $23,650 |
North Carolina 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 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 745 occupations in North Carolina.