PayByState

Mississippi · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Mississippi

Median $39,770 · Top 10% earn $47,180+ · Roughly 3,394 workers in Mississippi. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Mississippi median
$39,770
$19.12/hr
Top 10%
$47,180
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$27,810
Entry-level range
Real pay
$46,843
CoL-adjusted (RPP 84.9)

Mississippi pays meaningfully below the U.S. median for dental assistants — $39,770 versus the national median of $47,350. Mississippi's lower cost of living partially offsets the lower nominal pay, but real purchasing power is still below national average. The state employs roughly 3,394 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Mississippi

Mississippi sits in the bottom quartile of U.S. dental assistant pay. Lower nominal wages typically reflect rural-area service delivery, smaller hospital systems, and less-dense union or specialty employer presence — partially offset by a lower cost of living.

Mississippi ranks #51 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Mississippi
#50 Arkansas $40,250 +$480
#49 West Virginia $40,720 +$950
#48 Alabama $40,720 +$950
#51 Mississippi (this page) $39,770 —
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Assistant programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

Compare programs

Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.

Education path for Mississippi

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 Mississippi median of $39,770, payback periods are typically 1.5 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 Mississippi selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Mississippi — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Mississippi?
The median dental assistant salary in Mississippi is $39,770 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $27,810; the top 10% earn $47,180 or more. About 3,394 people work in this role across the state.
How does Mississippi dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Mississippi's median of $39,770 is $7,580 below the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Mississippi's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 84.9), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $46,843.
Is dental assistant a good career in Mississippi?
On the data: Mississippi employs roughly 3,394 dental assistants, with a median wage of $39,770 and the top decile clearing $47,180. 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 Mississippi?
At the Mississippi median of $39,770 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $19.12/hr. The top 10% earn around $22.68/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $13.37/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Mississippi-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 Mississippi's RPP is 84.9 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.