Average hourly wage compared to minimum wage for dental assistants in each state:
Alabama
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $17.19
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Alaska
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $24.35
State minimum hourly wage: $10.34
Arizona
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.17
State minimum hourly wage: $12.80
Arkansas
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $16.80
State minimum hourly wage: $11 for companies with four or more employees; $7.25 everywhere else
California
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $22.15
State minimum hourly wage: $14 for small companies; $15 for companies with 26 or more workers
Colorado
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.02
State minimum hourly wage: $12.56
Connecticut
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $22.18
State minimum hourly wage: $13
Delaware
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.49
State minimum hourly wage: $10.50
Florida
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.63
State minimum hourly wage: $10
Georgia
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.17
State minimum hourly wage: $5.15 for companies exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Hawaii
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.20
State minimum hourly wage: $10.10
Idaho
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $17.43
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Illinois
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.39
State minimum hourly wage: $12 for companies with four or more employees, excluding family members; $7.25 everywhere else
Indiana
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.01
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Iowa
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.33
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Kansas
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.43
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Kentucky
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.35
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Louisiana
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $16.14
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Maine
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.14
State minimum hourly wage: $12.75
Maryland
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.35
State minimum hourly wage: $12.50
Massachusetts
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $24.62
State minimum hourly wage: $14.25
Michigan
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.08
State minimum hourly wage: $9.87
Minnesota
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $25.52
State minimum hourly wage: $8.42 for companies with revenue under $500,000; $10.33 for companies making more
Mississippi
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $17.39
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Missouri
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.25
State minimum hourly wage: $11.15
Montana
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.78
State minimum hourly wage: $9.20 for companies with gross sales over $110,000; $4 for business not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act with gross annual sales of $110,000 or less
Nebraska
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.68
State minimum hourly wage: $9 for companies with four or more employees; $7.25 everywhere else
Nevada
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.28
State minimum hourly wage: $8.75 with health insurance provided; $9.75 without health insurance
New Hampshire
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $23.79
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
New Jersey
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.14
State minimum hourly wage: $13; $11.90 for seasonal and small employers with fewer than six employees
New Mexico
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.17
State minimum hourly wage: $11.50
New York
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.59
State minimum hourly wage: $13.20; $15 (Long Island, Westchester, and NYC)
North Carolina
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.31
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
North Dakota
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $22.97
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Ohio
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.89
State minimum hourly wage: $9.30 at companies making more than $342,000; $7.25 everywhere else
Oklahoma
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.79
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25 for employers of 10 or more full-time employees at any one location and employers with annual gross sales over $100,000 irrespective of number of full time employees; $2 for all other employers exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Oregon
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $23.45
State minimum hourly wage: $12.75
Pennsylvania
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.94
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Rhode Island
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $22.15
State minimum hourly wage: $12.25
South Carolina
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.29
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
South Dakota
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.20
State minimum hourly wage: $9.95
Tennessee
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.83
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Texas
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $18.45
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Utah
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $16.93
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Vermont
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $21.75
State minimum hourly wage: $12.55 for companies with two or more employees; $7.25 everywhere else
Virginia
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.95
State minimum hourly wage: $11 for companies with four or more employees; $7.25 everywhere else
Washington
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $22.29
State minimum hourly wage: $14.49
West Virginia
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $17.71
State minimum hourly wage: $8.75 for companies with six or more employees at one location; $7.25 everywhere else
Wisconsin
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $20.34
State minimum hourly wage: $7.25
Wyoming
Average hourly wage for dental assistants: $19.78
State minimum hourly wage: $5.15 for companies exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act
