Minnesota · BLS SOC 31-9091
Dental Assistant salary in Minnesota
Median $54,450 · Top 10% earn $73,940+ · Roughly 6,788 workers in Minnesota. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- Minnesota median
- $54,450
- $26.18/hr
- Top 10%
- $73,940
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $38,080
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $56,366
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 96.6)
Minnesota pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for dental assistants — $54,450 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power is $9,016 above the U.S. average — a clean win. The state employs roughly 6,788 dental assistants.
What drives dental assistant pay in Minnesota
Minnesota's LDA (Licensed Dental Assistant) is the most expanded license in the U.S. — LDAs can place sealants, perform coronal polish, take impressions, and apply fluoride independently. The license drives a meaningful pay premium ($55–60K).
Top-paying metros in Minnesota
Minnesota-area metropolitan areas with the highest dental assistant medians.
Minnesota metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | $59,800 |
Minnesota ranks #6 of 50 states
Where Minnesota sits in the national distribution for dental assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. Minnesota |
|---|---|---|---|
| #5 | Alaska | $54,930 | +$480 |
| #4 | New York | $56,820 | +$2,370 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $57,290 | +$2,840 |
| #6 | Minnesota (this page) | $54,450 | — |
| #7 | Oregon | $53,980 | −$470 |
| #8 | Massachusetts | $53,510 | −$940 |
| #9 | Hawaii | $53,510 | −$940 |
Find Dental Assistant programs near you
We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.
Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.
Education path for Minnesota
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 Minnesota median of $54,450, payback periods are typically 0.5 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 Minnesota selected.
Dental Assistant salary in Minnesota — FAQ
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Methodology note
Minnesota-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 Minnesota's RPP is 96.6 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.