Dental Assistants · North Carolina

Dental Assistants Salary in North Carolina

Dental Assistants in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $50,380 —4.8% above the national median of $48,070. That ranks NC #12 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$50,380
Median hourly
$24.22
Entry level (P10)
$38,240
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$60,200
90th percentile
Employment
11,450
2.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+4.8%
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
$38,240
$47,680
$50,380
$57,720
$38,240$50,380$60,200
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $50,380.

Employment concentration (0.93×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for dental assistants

All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$31,240$35,800
Nursing Assistants$38,460$42,260
Medical Assistants$45,140$45,690
Phlebotomists$43,330$45,230
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,070$38,150
Physical Therapist Assistants$67,540$68,380

Frequently asked questions

How much do dental assistants make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for dental assistants in North Carolina is $50,380, or $24.22 per hour. That is 4.8% above the national median of $48,070.

What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $38,240 per year ($18.38/hour). The 25th percentile is $47,680.

How many people work as dental assistants in North Carolina?

About 11,450 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 2.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for dental assistants?

North Carolina ranks #12 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.93x) 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