PayByState

Oregon · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Oregon

Median $53,980 · Top 10% earn $73,000+ · Roughly 4,902 workers in Oregon. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Oregon median
$53,980
$25.95/hr
Top 10%
$73,000
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$37,750
Entry-level range
Real pay
$52,510
CoL-adjusted (RPP 102.8)

Oregon pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for dental assistants — $53,980 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power is $5,160 above the U.S. average — a clean win. The state employs roughly 4,902 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Oregon

Oregon 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.

Top-paying metros in Oregon

Oregon-area metropolitan areas with the highest dental assistant medians.

Oregon metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank Metro Median
1 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $53,900

Oregon ranks #7 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Oregon
#6 Minnesota $54,450 +$470
#5 Alaska $54,930 +$950
#4 New York $56,820 +$2,840
#7 Oregon (this page) $53,980 —
#8 Massachusetts $53,510 −$470
#9 Hawaii $53,510 −$470
#10 Connecticut $53,510 −$470
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Oregon

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 Oregon median of $53,980, 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 Oregon selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Oregon — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Oregon?
The median dental assistant salary in Oregon is $53,980 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $37,750; the top 10% earn $73,000 or more. About 4,902 people work in this role across the state.
How does Oregon dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Oregon's median of $53,980 is $6,630 above the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 102.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $52,510.
Where does Oregon pay dental assistants the most?
Top-paying metros in Oregon include Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro at $53,900. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.
Is dental assistant a good career in Oregon?
On the data: Oregon employs roughly 4,902 dental assistants, with a median wage of $53,980 and the top decile clearing $73,000. 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 Oregon?
At the Oregon median of $53,980 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $25.95/hr. The top 10% earn around $35.10/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $18.15/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Oregon-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 Oregon's RPP is 102.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.