National and state-by-state median wages · BLS OEWS data · Updated September 10, 2026
| # | State | Median Annual Salary | vs. National | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $65,270 | ▲ 34% | 5,980 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $60,580 | ▲ 24% | 630 |
| 3 | Maine | $60,070 | ▲ 23% | 1,550 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $59,530 | ▲ 22% | 1,600 |
| 5 | Oregon | $59,490 | ▲ 22% | 5,930 |
| 6 | Washington | $58,090 | ▲ 19% | 13,050 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $57,980 | ▲ 19% | 9,680 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $57,770 | ▲ 18% | 860 |
| 9 | Alaska | $57,710 | ▲ 18% | 1,140 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $56,850 | ▲ 16% | 3,840 |
| 11 | Vermont | $52,760 | ▲ 8% | 580 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $50,380 | ▲ 3% | 11,450 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $50,150 | ▲ 3% | 1,050 |
| 14 | California | $50,110 | ▲ 3% | 56,220 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $49,390 | ▲ 1% | 9,990 |
| 16 | Arizona | $49,000 | ▲ 0% | 8,680 |
| 17 | Michigan | $48,820 | ▲ 0% | 11,990 |
| 18 | Indiana | $48,670 | ▲ 0% | 6,690 |
| 19 | Maryland | $48,620 | ▼ 1% | 6,560 |
| 20 | Illinois | $48,610 | ▼ 1% | 13,740 |
| 21 | Iowa | $48,430 | ▼ 1% | 3,210 |
| 22 | Colorado | $48,340 | ▼ 1% | 8,360 |
| 23 | New York | $48,110 | ▼ 2% | 19,800 |
| 24 | Ohio | $47,970 | ▼ 2% | 12,150 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $47,930 | ▼ 2% | 12,080 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $47,900 | ▼ 2% | 1,290 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $47,730 | ▼ 2% | 4,530 |
| 28 | Florida | $47,620 | ▼ 3% | 26,620 |
| 29 | Delaware | $47,600 | ▼ 3% | 990 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $47,520 | ▼ 3% | 7,760 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $47,320 | ▼ 3% | 5,530 |
| 32 | Nevada | $47,110 | ▼ 4% | 4,230 |
| 33 | Georgia | $46,840 | ▼ 4% | 10,540 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $46,720 | ▼ 4% | 7,420 |
| 35 | Montana | $46,680 | ▼ 4% | 1,450 |
| 36 | Virginia | $46,670 | ▼ 4% | 10,760 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $46,660 | ▼ 5% | 2,520 |
| 38 | Missouri | $45,970 | ▼ 6% | 6,760 |
| 39 | Idaho | $45,880 | ▼ 6% | 2,680 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $45,740 | ▼ 6% | 4,550 |
| 41 | Texas | $45,430 | ▼ 7% | 33,230 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $44,990 | ▼ 8% | 630 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $44,720 | ▼ 8% | 1,960 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $44,400 | ▼ 9% | 2,150 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $44,090 | ▼ 10% | 4,540 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $42,830 | ▼ 12% | 2,950 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $39,160 | ▼ 20% | 3,080 |
| 48 | Alabama | $39,080 | ▼ 20% | 3,740 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $37,960 | ▼ 22% | 1,290 |
| 50 | Utah | $37,760 | ▼ 23% | 6,640 |
The national median annual salary for dental assistants is $48,867, about $23.49 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
Minnesota tops the list at $65,270 per year.
Utah has the lowest median at $37,760.
At the national median, dental assistants earn about $23.49 per hour (based on a 2,080-hour work year).
The table above shows total jobs per state; states with the largest numbers of dental assistants include California.