Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Dental Assistants

Find out which cities offer the best salaries for Dental Assistants. Data based on 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates.

Highest Paying City

$61,523

San Francisco, CA

National Average

$45,160

Across 50 metros

Top 10 Minimum

$47,920

To rank in top 10

RankCityMedian SalaryHourly Ratevs. AverageDetails
1
San Francisco, CA
Cost of Living: 169.3
$61,523$29.58/hr+36.2%View Details
2
San Jose, CA
Cost of Living: 179.8
$61,508$29.57/hr+36.2%View Details
3
Seattle, WA
Cost of Living: 149.6
$55,109$26.49/hr+22.0%View Details
4
Boston, MA
Cost of Living: 148.4
$53,948$25.94/hr+19.5%View Details
5
New York, NY
Cost of Living: 128.7
$53,557$25.75/hr+18.6%View Details
6
Washington, DC
Cost of Living: 140.1
$52,641$25.31/hr+16.6%View Details
7
San Diego, CA
Cost of Living: 142.8
$50,140$24.11/hr+11.0%View Details
8
Los Angeles, CA
Cost of Living: 146.3
$50,032$24.05/hr+10.8%View Details
9
Denver, CO
Cost of Living: 118.4
$49,039$23.58/hr+8.6%View Details
10
Chicago, IL
Cost of Living: 105.4
$47,920$23.04/hr+6.1%View Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What city pays Dental Assistants the most?

San Francisco, CA pays Dental Assistants the most, with a median salary of $61,523 per year.

What is the average Dental Assistant salary across all cities?

The average Dental Assistant salary across all 50 major US metro areas is $45,160 per year.

Should I consider cost of living when comparing salaries?

Yes! Cities like San Francisco and New York pay higher salaries, but also have higher costs of living. A $80,000 salary in a city with 90 cost of living index has more purchasing power than$100,000 in a city with 150 cost of living index.