State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Dental Assistant Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Dental Assistants is $48,070 a year ($23.11/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% through 2034, with about 52,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 31-9091Healthcare SupportLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $48,070
- Projected growth
- +6.4%
- Openings a year
- 52,900
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA).
How much do Dental Assistants make?
10th percentile$37,130
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$44,340
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$48,070
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$58,090
Upper quartile
90th percentile$62,250
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $48,070 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $23.11/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $50,200 |
| People employed | 387,790 |
Versus all US occupations
At $48,070, Dental Assistants earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,910 a year.
Versus healthcare support occupations
Inside the Healthcare Support group, where the middle occupation pays $44,910, this is 7% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $62,250 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,130, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 24% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Minnesota pays the most at $65,270, and still leads at $66,183 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Dental Assistants the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | $66,183 | 5,980 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | $55,122 | 630 |
| Maine | $60,070 | $61,896 | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | $57,150 | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | $57,556 | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58,090 | $54,283 | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $54,824 | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | $64,940 | 860 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | $56,380 | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | $54,869 | 3,840 |
Is Dental Assistant a growing career?
Dental Assistants6.4%
All US occupations3.1%
+6.4% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Dental Assistants to change 6.4% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.1× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 24,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 52,900 openings are projected each year, 13.9% of the 381,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will continue to increase demand for preventive dental services. Dentists will continue to hire dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing dentists to work more efficiently. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.
More people continue to enter older age groups, which typically have more problems related to oral health than younger people do. In addition, people keep more of their original teeth now than in previous generations, leading to continued increases in the need for dental care to maintain and treat teeth.
How to become a Dental Assistant
There is no single national gate. Some states require dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam; in other states there are no formal education requirements and assistants learn on the job. States typically do not license entry-level assistants, but they do require a license, registration or certification to work in radiography, infection control or expanded duties such as coronal polishing. The main national credential is the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
The credential path, step by step
- Check your state's dental assisting requirements
The path forks here. Some states require an accredited program and an exam before you can work; others allow entry with on-the-job training but require a separate credential for radiography or expanded functions. DANB publishes a state-by-state breakdown, and your state's Board of Dental Examiners holds the definitive rules.
- Complete a dental assisting program, or qualify by work experienceAbout 1 year for a program; 2 to 4 years via the work-experience pathway
Either graduate from an accredited dental assisting program (about 1 year for a certificate; 2 years for an associate's degree), or take DANB's work-experience route, which needs a minimum of 3,500 hours accrued over at least two and at most four years and verified by a licensed dentist.
- Get a current CPR, BLS or ACLS card
All DANB General Chairside Assisting eligibility pathways require a current, hands-on CPR, BLS or ACLS certificate from a DANB-accepted provider. Employers commonly require it regardless of certification.
- Pass DANB's RHS, ICE and GC exams to earn the CDA
The three component exams may be taken separately or in combination, but all three must be passed within a five-year period to earn Certified Dental Assistant certification.
- Obtain any state credential you need for expanded duties
States that allow coronal polishing, radiography or other expanded functions require a license, registration or certification for them. Several states recognize individual DANB exams as part of this.
- Renew DANB certification each year
Renewal requires 12 CDE credits per year for one certification (2 in infection control, 1 in bloodborne pathogens), a current CPR certificate and the fee.
Exams you have to pass
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Earned by passing three component exams within a five-year period: Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE) and General Chairside Assisting (GC). RHS and ICE have no eligibility requirements; GC requires one of three eligibility pathways plus a current DANB-accepted CPR, BLS or ACLS card. More than 35,000 dental assistants hold the CDA.
Administered by Dental Assisting National Board.
National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA)
Entry-level DANB certification made up of three exams: Infection Control (ICE), Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) and Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology (AMP).
Administered by Dental Assisting National Board.
- Program accreditation
CODA · Commission on Dental Accreditation
Some states require dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program. Graduating from a CODA-accredited dental assisting or dental hygiene program (or holding an RDH license) is also DANB's Pathway I to the General Chairside Assisting exam that forms part of CDA certification.
- How long the training takes
About 1 year
Many dental assisting programs take about 1 year and lead to a certificate or diploma; 2-year programs leading to an associate's degree are less common. Some assistants instead learn entirely through on-the-job training.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
DANB certification must be renewed every year. For a single DANB certification, renewal requires 12 continuing dental education (CDE) credits per year, including 2 in infection control and 1 in bloodborne pathogens, a current CPR/BLS/ACLS certificate, and the renewal fee. Any separate state CE requirements are set by the state board.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
States typically do not require a license for entry-level dental assistants, and in several states there is no formal education requirement at all. What varies is the credential attached to specific duties: states may require an assistant to be licensed, registered or certified in order to take radiographs, handle infection control, or perform expanded duties such as coronal polishing, and some states require graduation from an accredited program plus an exam before entry. DANB administers state-specific dental assisting exams for Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. Check your state's Board of Dental Examiners or DANB's state requirements pages.
Who governs the credential
- Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) — Awards the national dental assisting certifications (CDA, NELDA, COA, CPFDA, CRFDA and others) and administers the component exams; also administers certain state dental assisting exams.
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) — Accredits allied dental education programs in the United States, including dental assisting programs.
Credential detail for dental assistants is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dental Assistants · checked August 23, 2026
- DANB: Earn Dental Assistant Certification · checked August 23, 2026
- DANB: CDA Application Packet (eligibility pathways for the GC exam) · checked August 23, 2026
- DANB: Maintain Certification and Recertification Requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- DANB: State Dental Assisting Requirements · checked August 23, 2026
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements, and dental assistants learn through on-the-job training.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as dental assistants.
- Post-Secondary Certificate46.0%
- High School Diploma28.6%
- Some College Courses17.1%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)8.3%
What does a Dental Assistant do?
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
Dental assistants have many tasks, including patient care, recordkeeping, and appointment scheduling. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices in which they work.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most dental assistants work full time. Some work evenings or weekends.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- Regular bending or twisting
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
Pressure and stakes
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where dental assistants work
| Offices of dentists | 90% |
|---|---|
| Offices of physicians | 2% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 2% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.4/5
- Reading Comprehension3.3/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Writing3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Learning Strategies2.5/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Operations Monitoring2.6/5
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Electronic mail software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Dental Assistant?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.5
Investigative3.5
Artistic1.0
Socialprimary4.4
Enterprising1.3
Conventionalprimary5.4
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Dental Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do Dental Assistants make?
Dental Assistants earn a median of $48,070 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.11/hr. The middle half earn between $44,340 and $58,090. The top 10% earn $62,250 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Dental Assistant?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Dental Assistants. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 46.0% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Dental Assistant a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 52,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Dental Assistant do?
Dental assistants have many tasks, including patient care, recordkeeping, and appointment scheduling. A core O*NET task: prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Dental Assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Dental Assistants are Minnesota ($65,270), District of Columbia ($60,580), Maine ($60,070) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Dental Assistant?
O*NET scores Dental Assistants highest on the Conventional, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Dental Assistant?
About 1 year. Many dental assisting programs take about 1 year and lead to a certificate or diploma; 2-year programs leading to an associate's degree are less common. Some assistants instead learn entirely through on-the-job training.
Do you need a license to work as a Dental Assistant?
Not a state license. States typically do not require a license for entry-level dental assistants, and in several states there is no formal education requirement at all. What varies is the credential attached to specific duties: states may require an assistant to be licensed, registered or certified in order to take radiographs, handle infection control, or perform expanded duties such as coronal polishing, and some states require graduation from an accredited program plus an exam before entry. DANB administers state-specific dental assisting exams for Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. Check your state's Board of Dental Examiners or DANB's state requirements pages.
What exams and certifications apply to a Dental Assistant?
The CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) and the NELDA (National Entry Level Dental Assistant). Earned by passing three component exams within a five-year period: Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), Infection Control (ICE) and General Chairside Assisting (GC). RHS and ICE have no eligibility requirements; GC requires one of three eligibility pathways plus a current DANB-accepted CPR, BLS or ACLS card. More than 35,000 dental assistants hold the CDA.