Dental assistant salary vs. cost of living in each state

The cost of living in Minnesota, the highest-paying state for dental assistants, is $44,626 for a single adult with no children.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated salary data for dental jobs to reflect 2023 information on April 3. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge updated its cost of living calculator Feb. 14.

Here is how the average annual salary for dental assistants compares to the 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

Average annual salary: $37,440

Cost of living: $41,911

Alaska

Average annual salary: $53,020

Cost of living: $48,375

Arizona

Average annual salary: $47,030

Cost of living: $48,677

Arkansas

Average annual salary: $40,440

Cost of living: $39,724

California

Average annual salary: $52,470

Cost of living: $56,825

Colorado

Average annual salary: $50,940

Cost of living: $51,644

Connecticut

Average annual salary: $49,590

Cost of living: $50,194

Delaware

Average annual salary: $49,040

Cost of living: $47,064

Florida

Average annual salary: $46,240

Cost of living: $46,645

Georgia

Average annual salary: $43,710

Cost of living: $48,448

Hawaii

Average annual salary: $42,960

Cost of living: $56,841

Idaho

Average annual salary: $40,200

Cost of living: $44,366

Illinois

Average annual salary: $42,420

Cost of living: $47,559

Indiana

Average annual salary: $47,250

Cost of living: $42,510

Iowa

Average annual salary: $49,140

Cost of living: $41,678

Kansas

Average annual salary: $41,140

Cost of living: $42,337

Kentucky

Average annual salary: $41,090

Cost of living: $40,355

Louisiana

Average annual salary: $38,290

Cost of living: $41,233

Maine

Average annual salary: $48,760

Cost of living: $45,844

Maryland

Average annual salary: $50,040

Cost of living: $51,460

Massachusetts

Average annual salary: $56,810

Cost of living: $58,009

Michigan

Average annual salary: $45,210

Cost of living: $42,187

Minnesota

Average annual salary: $62,760

Cost of living: $44,626

Mississippi

Average annual salary: $37,610

Cost of living: $41,361

Missouri

Average annual salary: $44,450

Cost of living: $42,024

Montana

Average annual salary: $43,280

Cost of living: $42,374

Nebraska

Average annual salary: $43,930

Cost of living: $41,849

Nevada

Average annual salary: $46,200

Cost of living: $46,727

New Hampshire

Average annual salary: $54,190

Cost of living: $49,045

New Jersey

Average annual salary: $46,950

Cost of living: $51,504

New Mexico

Average annual salary: $40,530

Cost of living: $41,807

New York

Average annual salary: $48,290

Cost of living: $55,878

North Carolina

Average annual salary: $47,840

Cost of living: $44,848

North Dakota

Average annual salary: $54,010

Cost of living: $40,262

Ohio

Average annual salary: $49,550

Cost of living: $40,359

Oklahoma

Average annual salary: $41,470

Cost of living: $40,211

Oregon

Average annual salary: $55,960

Cost of living: $50,553

Pennsylvania

Average annual salary: $47,770

Cost of living: $45,661

Rhode Island

Average annual salary: $52,030

Cost of living: $50,418

South Carolina

Average annual salary: $46,940

Cost of living: $44,152

South Dakota

Average annual salary: $47,620

Cost of living: $40,718

Tennessee

Average annual salary: $43,910

Cost of living: $43,196

Texas

Average annual salary: $41,690

Cost of living: $43,508

Utah

Average annual salary: $39,350

Cost of living: $46,850

Vermont

Average annual salary: $53,860

Cost of living: $47,892

Virginia

Average annual salary: $47,630

Cost of living: $49,973

Washington

Average annual salary: $54,190

Cost of living: $53,242

West Virginia

Average annual salary: $39,890

Cost of living: $39,386

Wisconsin

Average annual salary: $45,700

Cost of living: $42,062

Wyoming

Average annual salary: $47,560

Cost of living: $43,823

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