PayByState

Delaware · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Delaware

Median $47,820 · Top 10% earn $61,230+ · Roughly 1,131 workers in Delaware. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Delaware median
$47,820
$22.99/hr
Top 10%
$61,230
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$33,440
Entry-level range
Real pay
$47,629
CoL-adjusted (RPP 100.4)

Delaware pays close to the U.S. median for dental assistants — $47,820 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 1,131 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Delaware

Delaware 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.

Delaware ranks #19 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Delaware
#18 Illinois $48,770 +$950
#17 Vermont $48,770 +$950
#16 Nevada $49,240 +$1,420
#19 Delaware (this page) $47,820 —
#20 Arizona $46,880 −$940
#21 Maine $46,880 −$940
#22 Virginia $46,880 −$940
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Delaware

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 Delaware median of $47,820, payback periods are typically 0.8 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 Delaware selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Delaware — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Delaware?
The median dental assistant salary in Delaware is $47,820 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $33,440; the top 10% earn $61,230 or more. About 1,131 people work in this role across the state.
How does Delaware dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Delaware's median of $47,820 is $470 above the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Delaware's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 100.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $47,629.
Is dental assistant a good career in Delaware?
On the data: Delaware employs roughly 1,131 dental assistants, with a median wage of $47,820 and the top decile clearing $61,230. 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 Delaware?
At the Delaware median of $47,820 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $22.99/hr. The top 10% earn around $29.44/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $16.08/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Delaware-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 Delaware's RPP is 100.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.