Dental Assistants · Illinois

Dental Assistants Salary in Illinois

Dental Assistants in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $48,610 —1.1% above the national median of $48,070. That ranks IL #20 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$48,610
Median hourly
$23.37
Entry level (P10)
$37,360
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$59,910
90th percentile
Employment
13,740
2.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+1.1%
U.S. $48,070

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$37,360
$40,390
$48,610
$56,860
$37,360$48,610$59,910
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $48,610.

Employment concentration (0.90×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for dental assistants

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Minnesota$65,270$31.385,9800.81
2District of Columbia$60,580$29.136300.36
3Maine$60,070$28.881,5500.97
4New Hampshire$59,530$28.621,6000.94
5Oregon$59,490$28.605,9301.21
6Washington$58,090$27.9313,0501.47
7Massachusetts$57,980$27.889,6801.07
8North Dakota$57,770$27.788600.80
9Alaska$57,710$27.741,1401.40
10Connecticut$56,850$27.333,8400.91

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,060$35,800
Nursing Assistants$45,960$42,260
Medical Assistants$46,090$45,690
Phlebotomists$46,010$45,230
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,480$38,150
Physical Therapist Assistants$65,240$68,380

Frequently asked questions

How much do dental assistants make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for dental assistants in Illinois is $48,610, or $23.37 per hour. That is 1.1% above the national median of $48,070.

What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,360 per year ($17.96/hour). The 25th percentile is $40,390.

How many people work as dental assistants in Illinois?

About 13,740 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 2.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for dental assistants?

Illinois ranks #20 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.90x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays dental assistants the most?

Minnesota has the highest median wage at $65,270 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($60,580) and Maine ($60,070).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes