The average annual salary for dental assistants has increased each of the last five years, rising from $41,170 in 2019 to $47,350 in 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Benchmarking
Specialty dentists have the highest mean hourly wage in Connecticut, where they make an average of $150.24 per hour, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dental assistants make an average of $62,760 in Minnesota, the highest-earning state, compared to the state's average household income of $109,737.
Dental hygienists make an average of $123,510 in Washington, the highest-earning state, compared to the state's average household income of $ $125,847.
Dentists make an average of $227,200 in Delaware, the highest-earning state, compared to the state's average household income of $105,438.
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Orthodontists have the highest mean hourly wage in Michigan, where they make an average of $158.47 per hour, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Six dental companies were recently included on Newsweek's 2024 list of the best workplaces for mental well-being.
The cost of living in Minnesota, the highest-paying state for dental assistants, is $44,626 for a single adult with no children.
The cost of living in Washington, the highest-paying state for dental hygienists, is $53,242 for a single adult with no children.
The highest-paying metropolitan area for dental hygienists is the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, Calif., region, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.