New York · BLS SOC 31-9091
Dental Assistant salary in New York
Median $56,820 · Top 10% earn $78,730+ · Roughly 24,134 workers in New York. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
- New York median
- $56,820
- $27.32/hr
- Top 10%
- $78,730
- 90th percentile
- Bottom 10%
- $39,730
- Entry-level range
- Real pay
- $48,983
- CoL-adjusted (RPP 116.0)
New York pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for dental assistants — $56,820 versus the national median of $47,350. After adjusting for New York's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $1,633 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 24,134 dental assistants.
What drives dental assistant pay in New York
New York requires DA registration with the State Education Department for expanded functions. NYC corporate dental groups dominate hiring; private practice in Manhattan pays above state median.
Top-paying metros in New York
New York-area metropolitan areas with the highest dental assistant medians.
New York metros
10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.
| Rank | Metro | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,200 |
New York ranks #4 of 50 states
Where New York sits in the national distribution for dental assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.
| Rank | State | Median | vs. New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 | District of Columbia | $57,290 | +$470 |
| #2 | Washington | $57,770 | +$950 |
| #1 | California | $60,130 | +$3,310 |
| #4 | New York (this page) | $56,820 | — |
| #5 | Alaska | $54,930 | −$1,890 |
| #6 | Minnesota | $54,450 | −$2,370 |
| #7 | Oregon | $53,980 | −$2,840 |
Find Dental Assistant programs near you
We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.
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Education path for New York
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 New York median of $56,820, 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 New York selected.
Dental Assistant salary in New York — FAQ
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Methodology note
New York-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 New York's RPP is 116.0 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.