PayByState

Pennsylvania · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Pennsylvania

Median $46,400 · Top 10% earn $58,640+ · Roughly 16,970 workers in Pennsylvania. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Pennsylvania median
$46,400
$22.31/hr
Top 10%
$58,640
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$32,450
Entry-level range
Real pay
$47,934
CoL-adjusted (RPP 96.8)

Pennsylvania pays close to the U.S. median for dental assistants — $46,400 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 16,970 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania ranks #23 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Pennsylvania
#22 Virginia $46,880 +$480
#21 Maine $46,880 +$480
#20 Arizona $46,880 +$480
#23 Pennsylvania (this page) $46,400 —
#24 Utah $45,930 −$470
#25 Texas $45,460 −$940
#26 Wisconsin $45,460 −$940
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania median of $46,400, payback periods are typically 0.8 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 Pennsylvania selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Pennsylvania — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Pennsylvania?
The median dental assistant salary in Pennsylvania is $46,400 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $32,450; the top 10% earn $58,640 or more. About 16,970 people work in this role across the state.
How does Pennsylvania dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Pennsylvania's median of $46,400 is $950 below the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 96.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $47,934.
Is dental assistant a good career in Pennsylvania?
On the data: Pennsylvania employs roughly 16,970 dental assistants, with a median wage of $46,400 and the top decile clearing $58,640. 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 Pennsylvania?
At the Pennsylvania median of $46,400 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $22.31/hr. The top 10% earn around $28.19/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $15.60/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Pennsylvania-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 Pennsylvania's RPP is 96.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.