PayByState

Montana · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Montana

Median $44,980 · Top 10% earn $56,100+ · Roughly 1,508 workers in Montana. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Montana median
$44,980
$21.63/hr
Top 10%
$56,100
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$31,450
Entry-level range
Real pay
$47,749
CoL-adjusted (RPP 94.2)

Montana pays modestly below the U.S. median for dental assistants — $44,980 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 1,508 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Montana

Montana 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.

Montana ranks #28 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Montana
#26 Wisconsin $45,460 +$480
#25 Texas $45,460 +$480
#24 Utah $45,930 +$950
#28 Montana (this page) $44,980 —
#31 Florida $44,510 −$470
#32 New Mexico $44,510 −$470
#33 Ohio $44,510 −$470
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Montana

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 Montana median of $44,980, payback periods are typically 0.9 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 Montana selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Montana — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Montana?
The median dental assistant salary in Montana is $44,980 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $31,450; the top 10% earn $56,100 or more. About 1,508 people work in this role across the state.
How does Montana dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Montana's median of $44,980 is $2,370 below the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 94.2), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $47,749.
Is dental assistant a good career in Montana?
On the data: Montana employs roughly 1,508 dental assistants, with a median wage of $44,980 and the top decile clearing $56,100. 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 Montana?
At the Montana median of $44,980 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $21.63/hr. The top 10% earn around $26.97/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $15.12/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Montana-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 Montana's RPP is 94.2 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.