Dental assistant salary in Alabama
The average salary for a dental assistant in Alabama is around $29,602 per year.
Show avg average hourly wage
This is 51% below the national average. ● Updated in 2018.
$19,383 Bottom 20%
$29,602 Median
$45,207 Top 20%
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $29,602. Wages typically start from $19,383 and go up to $45,207.
How much does a dental assistant make in Alabama?
Dental Assistant salary description
How do dental assistant salaries compare to similar careers
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
Minnesota $49,220
District of Columbia $46,630
New Hampshire $47,900
Alaska $44,702
North Dakota $44,320
Massachusetts $45,760
Virginia $43,520
Connecticut $44,080
Rhode Island $43,890
Washington $42,260
Arizona $41,690
Oregon $43,990
New Jersey $41,950
Vermont $44,020
Maine $41,110
Maryland $41,180
North Carolina $41,660
Florida $39,590
Delaware $40,150
California $38,740
Colorado $40,170
South Carolina $38,600
Iowa $38,386
New York $38,170
Ohio $36,960
Wisconsin $38,150
Missouri $38,270
Nevada $38,010
South Dakota $37,310
Tennessee $37,250
Montana $36,850
Michigan $36,660
Nebraska $35,850
Texas $35,930
Georgia $36,760
Kansas $35,068
Oklahoma $36,180
New Mexico $34,870
Wyoming $34,860
Hawaii $33,781
Pennsylvania $33,387
Arkansas $32,948
Indiana $32,146
Mississippi $31,640
Kentucky $31,193
Louisiana $31,930
West Virginia $30,970
Alabama $29,602
Illinois $29,898
Utah $30,940
Guam $26,750
Idaho $27,098
Puerto Rico $18,300
How much does a Dental Assistant earn?
The number of dental assistants is expected to grow about 25%, which is not as high as the 28% growth in healthcare support jobs. Nonetheless, this career field is expected to grow more than twice as fast as all occupations in the US.
The starting salary of dental assistants greatly depends on many factors, including whether the assistant is certified versus registered, where they are located, and the type of practice they work for. For example, by location, a dental assistant can earn as high as $42,000 working in Minnesota, to as low as $27,000 working in Utah. Additionally, by industry, a dental assistant can make approximately $41,000 working in the Insurance Carriers industry, and about $32,200 in a physician's office.
Dental Assistant Compensation by Geographical Region
The top paying metropolitan area in the US is in the Bay Area of California. This includes San Francisco, San Mateo, and Redwood City with an average annual dental assistant salary of $49k. Coming in at #2 on the list are Haverhill, North Andover, and Amesbury in Massachusetts at $48k per year.
Not including Puerto Rico, the lowest paying state in the US for dental assistants is Utah with a $28k yearly salary. West Virginia was close behind with an average salary of $29k. While the pay varies between states, something to also consider is a potential lower standard of living.
How do dental assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Dental assistants earn about the same as related careers in Alabama. On average, they make less than ophthalmic medical technicians but more than pharmacy technicians.
Ophthalmic medical technician salary $35K
Medical transcriptionist salary $34K
Paramedic salary $32K
Medical records technician salary $32K
Optician salary $31K
Dental assistant salary $30K
Endoscopy technician salary $29K
Medical secretary salary $30K
Veterinary technologist salary $30K
Pharmacy technician salary $27K
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)