Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Pennsylvania | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $47,930 | $48,867 | -2% |
| Median hourly wage | $23.04 | $23.49 | -2% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $49,109.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in Pennsylvania is $47,930, or about $23.04 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. Pennsylvania is -2% below the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in Pennsylvania typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 12,080 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $47,930, Pennsylvania offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 543 of the 778 occupations reported in Pennsylvania — higher than 30% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $71,590, Physical Therapist Assistants at $62,580, Massage Therapists at $58,300 — all figures are median annual wages for Pennsylvania.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Pennsylvania 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 98.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 543 of the 778 occupations reported in Pennsylvania — higher than 30% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Pennsylvania | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $71,590 | $2,560 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $62,580 | $4,270 |
| Massage Therapists | $58,300 | $2,990 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $45,820 | $3,450 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $45,160 | $4,160 |
| Psychiatric Aides | $44,790 | $1,620 |
Pennsylvania 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 98.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 778 occupations in Pennsylvania.