PayByState

Colorado · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Colorado

Median $50,190 · Top 10% earn $65,650+ · Roughly 6,411 workers in Colorado. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Colorado median
$50,190
$24.13/hr
Top 10%
$65,650
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$35,100
Entry-level range
Real pay
$48,634
CoL-adjusted (RPP 103.2)

Colorado pays modestly above the U.S. median for dental assistants — $50,190 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 6,411 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Colorado

Colorado pays close to the U.S. median for dental assistants. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Colorado ranks #14 of 50 states

Where Colorado sits in the national distribution for dental assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Colorado
#13 Maryland $52,090 +$1,900
#12 New Hampshire $53,030 +$2,840
#11 New Jersey $53,030 +$2,840
#14 Colorado (this page) $50,190 —
#15 Rhode Island $49,720 −$470
#16 Nevada $49,240 −$950
#17 Vermont $48,770 −$1,420
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Colorado

The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (8–12 mo); on-the-job in some states, taking about 10 months. Tuition ranges from $1,000 (community college) to $12,000 (private accelerated). On the Colorado median of $50,190, payback periods are typically 0.7 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Dental Assistant salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Colorado selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Colorado — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Colorado?
The median dental assistant salary in Colorado is $50,190 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $35,100; the top 10% earn $65,650 or more. About 6,411 people work in this role across the state.
How does Colorado dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Colorado's median of $50,190 is $2,840 above the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 103.2), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $48,634.
Is dental assistant a good career in Colorado?
On the data: Colorado employs roughly 6,411 dental assistants, with a median wage of $50,190 and the top decile clearing $65,650. The role is projected to grow +7% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for dental assistants in Colorado?
At the Colorado median of $50,190 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $24.13/hr. The top 10% earn around $31.56/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $16.88/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Colorado-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 31-9091: Dental Assistants), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Colorado's RPP is 103.2 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.