The average annual salary for dental assistants is higher than the cost of living in every state but Hawaii, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Here is the average annual salary compared to the minimum cost of living in each state:
Note: Salary information was taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The minimum cost of living in each state was provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator. The cost of living is for a single adult with no children before taxes.
Alabama
Annual compensation: $37,720
Cost of living: $32,547
Alaska
Annual compensation: $52,430
Cost of living: $35,671
Arizona
Annual compensation: $44,610
Cost of living: $36,985
Arkansas
Annual compensation: $36,570
Cost of living: $31,719
California
Annual compensation: $48,990
Cost of living: $44,175
Colorado
Annual compensation: $46,350
Cost of living: $39,978
Connecticut
Annual compensation: $48,260
Cost of living: $36,937
Delaware
Annual compensation: $52,500
Cost of living: $36,114
Florida
Annual compensation: $42,650
Cost of living: $36,848
Georgia
Annual compensation: $41,160
Cost of living: $36,862
Hawaii
Annual compensation: $39,590
Cost of living: $45,854
Idaho
Annual compensation: $38,840
Cost of living: $33,422
Illinois
Annual compensation: $41,290
Cost of living: $37,641
Indiana
Annual compensation: $43,920
Cost of living: $32,832
Iowa
Annual compensation: $45,650
Cost of living: $32,713
Kansas
Annual compensation: $39,000
Cost of living: $32,643
Kentucky
Annual compensation: $40,430
Cost of living: $32,129
Louisiana
Annual compensation: $36,180
Cost of living: $32,993
Maine
Annual compensation: $46,560
Cost of living: $34,382
Maryland
Annual compensation: $45,060
Cost of living: $40,798
Massachusetts
Annual compensation: $52,200
Cost of living: $44,405
Michigan
Annual compensation: $42,040
Cost of living: $33,851
Minnesota
Annual compensation: $58,890
Cost of living: $35,320
Mississippi
Annual compensation: $36,960
Cost of living: $32,073
Missouri
Annual compensation: $42,260
Cost of living: $32,801
Montana
Annual compensation: $40,670
Cost of living: $32,689
Nebraska
Annual compensation: $42,330
Cost of living: $32,722
Nevada
Annual compensation: $41,240
Cost of living: $35,399
New Hampshire
Annual compensation: $50,220
Cost of living: $35,847
New Jersey
Annual compensation: $46,410
Cost of living: $38,910
New Mexico
Annual compensation: $39,610
Cost of living: $33,435
New York
Annual compensation: $47,880
Cost of living: $44,627
North Carolina
Annual compensation: $45,650
Cost of living: $35,012
North Dakota
Annual compensation: $51,370
Cost of living: $31,937
Ohio
Annual compensation: $46,860
Cost of living: $31,890
Oklahoma
Annual compensation: $40,770
Cost of living: $32,228
Oregon
Annual compensation: $51,990
Cost of living: $40,312
Pennsylvania
Annual compensation: $44,740
Cost of living: $34,128
Rhode Island
Annual compensation: $44,340
Cost of living: $36,443
South Carolina
Annual compensation: $43,070
Cost of living: $34,806
South Dakota
Annual compensation: $43,790
Cost of living: $31,509
Tennessee
Annual compensation: $40,990
Cost of living: $33,257
Texas
Annual compensation: $39,170
Cost of living: $34,931
Utah
Annual compensation: $37,080
Cost of living: $36,225
Vermont
Annual compensation: $51,460
Cost of living: $34,992
Virginia
Annual compensation: $44,980
Cost of living: $39,599
Washington
Annual compensation: $50,430
Cost of living: $40,722
West Virginia
Annual compensation: $37,510
Cost of living: $32,381
Wisconsin
Annual compensation: $44,140
Cost of living: $33,409
Wyoming
Annual compensation: $41,720
Cost of living: $32,532