Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Rhode Island | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $50,150 | $48,867 | +3% |
| Median hourly wage | $24.11 | $23.49 | +3% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $49,022.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in Rhode Island is $50,150, or about $24.11 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. Rhode Island is +3% above the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in Rhode Island typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 1,050 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $50,150, Rhode Island offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 382 of the 545 occupations reported in Rhode Island — higher than 30% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Massage Therapists at $74,960, Physical Therapist Assistants at $68,640, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $66,710 — all figures are median annual wages for Rhode Island.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Rhode Island 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 110.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 382 of the 545 occupations reported in Rhode Island — higher than 30% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Rhode Island | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Massage Therapists | $74,960 | $290 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $68,640 | $420 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $66,710 | $300 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $51,460 | $190 |
| Psychiatric Aides | $51,100 | $130 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $49,770 | $380 |
Rhode Island 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 110.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 545 occupations in Rhode Island.