Here is how the average hourly wage for dental assistants compared to the minimum wage in each state:
Alabama
Average hourly wage for dentists: $18.14
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Alaska
Average hourly wage for dentists: $25.21
State minimum hourly wage: $10.85
Arizona
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.45
State minimum hourly wage: $13.85
Arkansas
Average hourly wage for dentists: $17.58
State minimum hourly wage: $11.00
California
Average hourly wage for dentists: $23.55
State minimum hourly wage: $15.50
Colorado
Average hourly wage for dentists: $22.28
State minimum hourly wage: $13.65
Connecticut
Average hourly wage for dentists: $23.20
State minimum hourly wage: $14.00
Delaware
Average hourly wage for dentists: $25.24
State minimum hourly wage: $11.75
Florida
Average hourly wage for dentists: $20.51
State minimum hourly wage: $11.00
Georgia
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.79
State minimum hourly wage: $5.15 for companies exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Hawaii
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.03
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00
Idaho
Average hourly wage for dentists: $18.68
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Illinois
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.85
State minimum hourly wage: $13.00
Indiana
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.11
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Iowa
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.95
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Kansas
Average hourly wage for dentists: $18.75
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Kentucky
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.44
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Louisiana
Average hourly wage for dentists: $17.40
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Maine
Average hourly wage for dentists: $22.38
State minimum hourly wage: $13.80
Maryland
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.66
State minimum hourly wage: $13.25
Massachusetts
Average hourly wage for dentists: $25.10
State minimum hourly wage: $15.00
Michigan
Average hourly wage for dentists: $20.21
State minimum hourly wage: $10.10
Minnesota
Average hourly wage for dentists: $28.31
State minimum hourly wage: $8.63 for companies with revenue under $500,000; $10.59 for companies making more
Mississippi
Average hourly wage for dentists: $17.77
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Missouri
Average hourly wage for dentists: $20.32
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00
Montana
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.55
State minimum hourly wage: $9.95 for companies with gross sales over $110,000; $4 for business not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less
Nebraska
Average hourly wage for dentists: $20.35
State minimum hourly wage: $10.50 for companies with four or more employees
Nevada
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.83
State minimum hourly wage: $9.50 with health insurance provided; $10.50 without health insurance
New Hampshire
Average hourly wage for dentists: $24.14
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
New Jersey
Average hourly wage for dentists: $22.31
State minimum hourly wage: $13.00; $11.90 for seasonal and small employers with fewer than six employees
New Mexico
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.04
State minimum hourly wage: $11.50
New York
Average hourly wage for dentists: $23.02
State minimum hourly wage: $14.20; $15 (Long Island, Westchester, and NYC)
North Carolina
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.95
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
North Dakota
Average hourly wage for dentists: $24.70
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Ohio
Average hourly wage for dentists: $22.53
State minimum hourly wage: $10.10 for employers with annual gross receipts of $372,000 or more; $7.25 everywhere else
Oklahoma
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.60
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25 for employers of 10 or more full-time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full time employees; $2 for all other employers.
Oregon
Average hourly wage for dentists: $25.00
State minimum hourly wage: $13.50
Pennsylvania
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.51
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Rhode Island
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.32
State minimum hourly wage: $13.00
South Carolina
Average hourly wage for dentists: $20.71
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
South Dakota
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.05
State minimum hourly wage: $10.80
Tennessee
Average hourly wage for dentists: $19.71
State minimum hourly wage: No state minimum wage law, but employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Texas
Average hourly wage for dentists: $18.83
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Utah
Average hourly wage for dentists: $17.83
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Vermont
Average hourly wage for dentists: $24.74
State minimum hourly wage: $13.18 for employers with two or more employees
Virginia
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.63
State minimum hourly wage: $12.00
Washington
Average hourly wage for dentists: $24.24
State minimum hourly wage: $15.74
West Virginia
Average hourly wage for dentists: $18.04
State minimum hourly wage: $8.75 for companies with six or more employees at one location
Wisconsin
Average hourly wage for dentists: $21.22
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Wyoming
Average hourly wage for dentists: $20.06
State minimum hourly wage: $5.15 for companies exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act