PayByState

Utah · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Utah

Median $45,930 · Top 10% earn $57,790+ · Roughly 4,148 workers in Utah. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Utah median
$45,930
$22.08/hr
Top 10%
$57,790
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$32,120
Entry-level range
Real pay
$47,399
CoL-adjusted (RPP 96.9)

Utah pays close to the U.S. median for dental assistants — $45,930 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 4,148 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Utah

Utah 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.

Utah ranks #24 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Utah
#23 Pennsylvania $46,400 +$470
#22 Virginia $46,880 +$950
#21 Maine $46,880 +$950
#24 Utah (this page) $45,930 —
#25 Texas $45,460 −$470
#26 Wisconsin $45,460 −$470
#27 Michigan $44,980 −$950
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Utah

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 Utah median of $45,930, 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 Utah selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Utah — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Utah?
The median dental assistant salary in Utah is $45,930 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $32,120; the top 10% earn $57,790 or more. About 4,148 people work in this role across the state.
How does Utah dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Utah's median of $45,930 is $1,420 below the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Utah's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 96.9), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $47,399.
Is dental assistant a good career in Utah?
On the data: Utah employs roughly 4,148 dental assistants, with a median wage of $45,930 and the top decile clearing $57,790. 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 Utah?
At the Utah median of $45,930 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $22.08/hr. The top 10% earn around $27.78/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $15.44/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Utah-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 Utah's RPP is 96.9 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.