PayByState

Tennessee · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee

Median $43,090 · Top 10% earn $52,780+ · Roughly 8,296 workers in Tennessee. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Tennessee median
$43,090
$20.72/hr
Top 10%
$52,780
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$30,130
Entry-level range
Real pay
$47,404
CoL-adjusted (RPP 90.9)

Tennessee pays modestly below the U.S. median for dental assistants — $43,090 versus the national median of $47,350. Tennessee's lower cost of living means the salary stretches further — real purchasing power is about $54 above the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 8,296 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Tennessee

Tennessee 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.

Tennessee ranks #43 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Tennessee
#36 Georgia $43,560 +$470
#35 Nebraska $44,040 +$950
#34 North Carolina $44,040 +$950
#43 Tennessee (this page) $43,090 —
#44 South Dakota $42,140 −$950
#45 Oklahoma $42,140 −$950
#46 Kentucky $42,140 −$950
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Education path for Tennessee

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 Tennessee median of $43,090, payback periods are typically 1.1 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 Tennessee selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Tennessee?
The median dental assistant salary in Tennessee is $43,090 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $30,130; the top 10% earn $52,780 or more. About 8,296 people work in this role across the state.
How does Tennessee dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee's median of $43,090 is $4,260 below the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 90.9), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $47,404.
Is dental assistant a good career in Tennessee?
On the data: Tennessee employs roughly 8,296 dental assistants, with a median wage of $43,090 and the top decile clearing $52,780. 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 Tennessee?
At the Tennessee median of $43,090 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $20.72/hr. The top 10% earn around $25.38/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $14.49/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Tennessee-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 Tennessee's RPP is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.