PayByState

Louisiana · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Louisiana

Median $41,670 · Top 10% earn $50,350+ · Roughly 5,279 workers in Louisiana. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Louisiana median
$41,670
$20.03/hr
Top 10%
$50,350
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$29,140
Entry-level range
Real pay
$46,095
CoL-adjusted (RPP 90.4)

Louisiana pays modestly below the U.S. median for dental assistants — $41,670 versus the national median of $47,350. Louisiana's lower cost of living partially offsets the lower nominal pay, but real purchasing power is still below national average. The state employs roughly 5,279 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Louisiana

Louisiana 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.

Louisiana ranks #47 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Louisiana
#46 Kentucky $42,140 +$470
#45 Oklahoma $42,140 +$470
#44 South Dakota $42,140 +$470
#47 Louisiana (this page) $41,670 —
#48 Alabama $40,720 −$950
#49 West Virginia $40,720 −$950
#50 Arkansas $40,250 −$1,420
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Louisiana

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 Louisiana median of $41,670, payback periods are typically 1.2 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 Louisiana selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Louisiana — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Louisiana?
The median dental assistant salary in Louisiana is $41,670 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $29,140; the top 10% earn $50,350 or more. About 5,279 people work in this role across the state.
How does Louisiana dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Louisiana's median of $41,670 is $5,680 below the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Louisiana's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 90.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $46,095.
Is dental assistant a good career in Louisiana?
On the data: Louisiana employs roughly 5,279 dental assistants, with a median wage of $41,670 and the top decile clearing $50,350. 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 Louisiana?
At the Louisiana median of $41,670 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $20.03/hr. The top 10% earn around $24.21/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $14.01/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Louisiana-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 Louisiana's RPP is 90.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.