Dental Assistant or EFDA Salary in the United States
How much does a Dental Assistant or EFDA make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dental Assistant or EFDA in the United States is $42,167 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.
However, a Dental Assistant or EFDA's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $50,953
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $38,050 to $46,766
Key Factors That Influence Dental Assistant or EFDA Salaries
A Dental Assistant or EFDA's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Dental Assistant or EFDA Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Dental Assistant or EFDA's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $41,085
Early Career (1-2 years): $41,964
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $43,858
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,061
Expert (over 8 years): $44,196
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Dental Assistant or EFDA
$41,085
Intermediate Level Dental Assistant or EFDA
$41,964
Senior Level Dental Assistant or EFDA
$43,858
Specialist Level Dental Assistant or EFDA
$44,061
Expert Level Dental Assistant or EFDA
$44,196
$41,0850 yr
$41,964< 2 yrs
$43,8582-4 yrs
$44,0615-8 yrs
$44,196> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Dental Assistant or EFDA Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Dental Assistant or EFDAs.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $46,687.
California: $46,510.
Massachusetts: $45,890.
District of Columbia$46,687
California$46,510
Massachusetts$45,890
Washington$45,721
New Jersey$45,705
Alaska$45,646
Connecticut$45,064
New York$44,828
Hawaii$44,073
Rhode Island$43,719
Maryland$43,478
Minnesota$43,149
Colorado$43,023
Illinois$42,981
Oregon$42,820
Delaware$42,702
New Hampshire$42,628
Virginia$42,462
Pennsylvania$41,977
Nevada$41,732
North Dakota$41,652
Michigan$41,526
Wisconsin$41,479
Vermont$41,387
Texas$41,129
Maine$41,113
Arizona$41,087
Ohio$41,058
Georgia$40,670
Indiana$40,476
Wyoming$40,438
Utah$40,379
Iowa$40,354
Kansas$40,151
Louisiana$40,092
North Carolina$40,071
Missouri$40,063
Florida$39,898
Montana$39,810
Nebraska$39,725
Kentucky$39,679
South Carolina$39,510
Tennessee$39,405
Idaho$39,363
New Mexico$39,055
Oklahoma$38,987
Alabama$38,739
South Dakota$38,321
Arkansas$38,093
West Virginia$37,971
Mississippi$37,604
Top Paying Cities for Dental Assistant or EFDAs
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $53,185
San Francisco: $52,603
Oakland: $51,494
San Jose, CA$53,185
San Francisco, CA$52,603
Oakland, CA$51,494
New York, NY$48,550
Paramus, NJ$47,960
Queens Village, NY$47,958
Passaic, NJ$47,918
Bergenfield, NJ$47,914
Stamford, CT$47,821
Huntington, NY$47,804
Newark, NJ$47,492
Bridgeport, CT$47,403
Vallejo, CA$47,320
New Brunswick, NJ$47,303
Petaluma, CA$47,277
Middlesex, NJ$47,197
Somerset, NJ$47,168
Santa Cruz, CA$47,113
Boston, MA$46,856
Monterey, CA$46,708
Seattle, WA$46,611
Santa Rosa, CA$46,603
Los Angeles, CA$46,590
Juneau, AK$46,480
Washington, DC$46,434
Orange, CA$46,284
Santa Ana, CA$46,173
Long Beach, CA$46,130
Anaheim, CA$46,122
Anchorage, AK$46,101
Santa Maria, CA$45,974
Everett, WA$45,966
Danbury, CT$45,818
Bremerton, WA$45,759
Tacoma, WA$45,608
New Suffolk, NY$45,607
Sacramento, CA$45,595
Santa Barbara, CA$45,549
Trenton, NJ$45,502
San Diego, CA$45,502
Brockton, MA$45,456
Fairbanks, AK$45,353
Lompoc, CA$45,245
Lowell, MA$45,211
Ventura, CA$45,203
Nashua, NH$45,194
Stockton, CA$45,190
Modesto, CA$44,882
Poughkeepsie, NY$44,790
Olympia, WA$44,709
Kennewick, WA$44,709
New Haven, CT$44,693
Lawrence, MA$44,541
Hartford, CT$44,499
Riverside, CA$44,490
New Bedford, MA$44,448
Richland, WA$44,448
Bakersfield, CA$44,389
San Bernardino, CA$44,372
New Britain, CT$44,368
Atlantic City, NJ$44,368
New London, CT$44,351
Norwich, CT$44,338
Portsmouth, NH$44,330
Boulder, CO$44,241
Portland, OR$44,182
Worcester, MA$44,178
Minneapolis, MN$44,047
Philadelphia, PA$43,988
Honolulu, HI$43,849
Saint Paul, MN$43,829
Vineland, NJ$43,820
Providence, RI$43,697
Chicago, IL$43,575
Bellingham, WA$43,525
Springfield, MA$43,491
Baltimore, MD$43,478
Chico, CA$43,373
Pittsfield, MA$43,259
Manchester, NH$43,179
Spokane, WA$42,993
Denver, CO$42,989
Albany, NY$42,791
Troy, NY$42,774
Nassau, NY$42,729
Schenectady, NY$42,685
Wilmington, DE$42,652
Burlington, VT$42,593
Salem, OR$42,576
Portland, ME$42,445
Yakima, WA$42,403
Rochester, MN$42,272
Reno, NV$42,251
Fresno, CA$42,251
Milwaukee, WI$42,213
Detroit, MI$42,171
Ann Arbor, MI$42,164
Allentown, PA$42,158
Colorado Springs, CO$42,087
Syracuse, NY$42,066
Carson City, NV$42,066
Houston, TX$42,007
Eugene, OR$41,985
Gary, IN$41,935
Springfield, OR$41,901
Bismarck, ND$41,893
Galveston, TX$41,863
Medford, OR$41,800
Fort Collins, CO$41,783
Concord, NH$41,762
Austin, TX$41,749
Mesa, AZ$41,661
Reading, PA$41,657
Phoenix, AZ$41,652
Dallas, TX$41,640
Saint Cloud, MN$41,599
Madison, WI$41,543
Utica, NY$41,429
Rochester, NY$41,361
Des Moines, IA$41,357
Raleigh, NC$41,353
Atlanta, GA$41,290
Battle Creek, MI$41,277
Salt Lake City, UT$41,264
Lancaster, PA$41,201
Harrisburg, PA$41,142
Kansas City, MO$41,100
Champaign, IL$41,092
Kansas City, KS$41,092
Fort Worth, TX$41,087
Columbus, OH$41,080
Boca Raton, FL$41,070
Pittsburgh, PA$41,054
Richmond, VA$41,037
Indianapolis, IN$41,028
Cleveland, OH$41,024
Las Vegas, NV$40,973
Cincinnati, OH$40,973
Petersburg, VA$40,910
Huntsville, AL$40,847
Lansing, MI$40,819
Lebanon, PA$40,813
Pueblo, CO$40,809
Appleton, WI$40,796
Buffalo, NY$40,780
Dayton, OH$40,767
Racine, WI$40,758
Charlotte, NC$40,754
Saint Louis, MO$40,742
York, PA$40,716
Elkhart, IN$40,716
Gastonia, NC$40,708
Billings, MT$40,698
Beaumont, TX$40,687
Lorain, OH$40,678
Benton Harbor, MI$40,670
Toledo, OH$40,661
Binghamton, NY$40,640
Rock Hill, SC$40,636
Rockford, IL$40,615
Springfield, IL$40,598
Elyria, OH$40,594
Fargo, ND$40,594
Flagstaff, AZ$40,564
Fort Lauderdale, FL$40,539
Duluth, MN$40,514
Miami, FL$40,514
Cheyenne, WY$40,484
Grand Forks, ND$40,484
Bangor, ME$40,392
Cedar Rapids, IA$40,345
Durham, NC$40,327
Louisville, KY$40,324
Grand Rapids, MI$40,316
Hialeah, FL$40,311
Casper, WY$40,252
Scranton, PA$40,202
New Orleans, LA$40,189
Virginia Beach, VA$40,185
Akron, OH$40,164
Peoria, IL$40,109
Sarasota, FL$40,101
Nashville, TN$40,071
Omaha, NE$40,071
Green Bay, WI$40,071
Baton Rouge, LA$40,050
Charleston, SC$40,042
Jamestown, NY$40,021
Davenport, IA$40,021
Tucson, AZ$39,999
Saint Petersburg, FL$39,974
Tampa, FL$39,966
Evansville, IN$39,940
Port Arthur, TX$39,940
Bradenton, FL$39,924
Santa Fe, NM$39,848
Orlando, FL$39,772
Clearwater, FL$39,759
Canton, OH$39,671
La Crosse, WI$39,671
Albuquerque, NM$39,645
Newport News, VA$39,641
High Point, NC$39,628
Ogden, UT$39,611
Corpus Christi, TX$39,578
Norfolk, VA$39,552
Laramie, WY$39,552
Rock Island, IL$39,527
Saginaw, MI$39,519
Jacksonville, FL$39,515
Salisbury, NC$39,506
Boise, ID$39,498
Moline, IL$39,477
Fort Myers, FL$39,464
Memphis, TN$39,455
Tulsa, OK$39,434
Waterloo, IA$39,409
Spartanburg, SC$39,367
Lincoln, NE$39,346
Fort Wayne, IN$39,337
Provo, UT$39,333
Cedar Falls, IA$39,283
San Antonio, TX$39,266
Greensboro, NC$39,249
South Bend, IN$39,245
Savannah, GA$39,198
Muskegon, MI$39,181
Birmingham, AL$39,177
Winston Salem, NC$39,157
Lake Charles, LA$39,055
Anderson, IN$39,046
Lexington, KY$39,034
Augusta, GA$39,021
Greenville, SC$39,021
Lima, OH$38,987
Wichita, KS$38,983
Tuscaloosa, AL$38,983
Columbia, SC$38,945
Springfield, OH$38,937
Asheville, NC$38,869
Bloomington, IN$38,840
Knoxville, TN$38,688
Shreveport, LA$38,684
Wilmington, NC$38,629
Roanoke, VA$38,629
Topeka, KS$38,553
Frankfort, KY$38,548
Oklahoma City, OK$38,519
Chillicothe, OH$38,503
Longview, TX$38,498
Melbourne, FL$38,494
Sioux Falls, SD$38,427
Mobile, AL$38,422
Terre Haute, IN$38,406
Altoona, PA$38,380
Amarillo, TX$38,351
Killeen, TX$38,338
Fayetteville, AR$38,304
Chattanooga, TN$38,292
Sioux City, IA$38,254
Idaho Falls, ID$38,245
Lynchburg, VA$38,212
Gainesville, FL$38,157
Portsmouth, OH$38,136
Little Rock, AR$38,127
Lafayette, LA$38,110
Youngstown, OH$38,110
Daytona Beach, FL$38,085
Clarksville, TN$38,081
Pensacola, FL$38,077
Temple, TX$38,074
Hopkinsville, KY$37,950
Erie, PA$37,942
Florence, SC$37,925
Charleston, WV$37,857
Great Falls, MT$37,836
Macon, GA$37,777
Tallahassee, FL$37,773
Fayetteville, NC$37,765
Waco, TX$37,756
Helena, MT$37,727
Pine Bluff, AR$37,711
Vincennes, IN$37,659
Lubbock, TX$37,642
Alamogordo, NM$37,617
Twin Falls, ID$37,579
Rapid City, SD$37,566
Jackson, MS$37,491
Huntington, WV$37,488
Greenville, MS$37,486
Parkersburg, WV$37,443
Montgomery, AL$37,436
Wichita Falls, TX$37,394
Springfield, MO$37,394
Biloxi, MS$37,372
Monroe, LA$37,330
Johnstown, PA$37,301
Sumter, SC$37,284
Columbus, GA$37,280
Pascagoula, MS$37,200
Abilene, TX$37,200
Kingsport, TN$37,090
Albany, GA$37,090
Gulfport, MS$37,077
Alexandria, LA$36,938
Fort Smith, AR$36,833
El Paso, TX$36,719
Las Cruces, NM$36,529
Harlingen, TX$36,422
Pocatello, ID$36,415
Florence, AL$36,360
Brownsville, TX$36,352
Mcallen, TX$36,263
Dothan, AL$36,204
Columbus, MS$35,954
Altus, OK$35,757
Lawton, OK$35,677
Pierre, SD$35,526
What Skills Can Increase a Dental Assistant or EFDA's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.41% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
CPR (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Front Office (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): The front office represents the customer-facing division of a firm. For example, customer service, sales, and industry experts who provide advisory services are considered part of a firm's front office operations.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
8.41%
CPR
6.09%
Front Office
2.38%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Dental Assistant or EFDA's salary.
Clinical Support: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Clinical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Clinical Support
$45,962
9%
Clinical Care
$44,697
6%
Leadership
$44,275
5%
Presentation
$43,432
3%
Collaboration
$43,010
2%
HIPAA
$43,010
2%
Get Latest Data
Dental Assistant or EFDA Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Dental Assistant or EFDA roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit,
offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely,
Dental Assistant or EFDA positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Dental Assistant or EFDA as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Dental Assistant or EFDA
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$50,600
$24.0
20%
How Education impacts a Dental Assistant or EFDA's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Dental Assistant or EFDAs enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Dental Assistant or EFDA with a Associate's Degree is between
$45,040
and $47,788).
Dental Assistant or EFDA Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Dental Assistant or EFDA
No Diploma0.7%
High School78.4%
Associates14.5%
Bachelors5.9%
Masters0.4%
Doctorate0.2%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.7%
High School
78.4%
Associates
14.5%
Bachelors
5.9%
Masters
0.4%
Doctorate
0.2%
view as graph
Dental Assistant or EFDA Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Dental Assistant or EFDA's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$38,050
Average$42,167/year
$46,766
$3,171
Average$3,514/month
$3,897
$732
Average$811/week
$899
$18
Average$20/hour
$22
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$46,766
$3,897
$899
$22
Average
$42,167
$3,514
$811
$20
25th Percentile
$38,050
$3,171
$732
$18
Salaries of jobs related to Dental Assistant or EFDA
Salaries for a Dental Assistant or EFDA can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $44,834 in 2023
to around $44,614 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Dental Assistant or EFDA salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Dental Assistant or EFDA Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$44,834
2024
$44,798
2025
$44,614
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$44,834
2024
$44,798
2025
$44,614
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Dental Assistant or EFDA
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Dental Assistant or EFDA
Here are companies hiring for Dental Assistant or EFDA and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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