Best cities for a dental assistant
The best cities for dental assistants are Anchorage, AK, Glendale, AZ, and Henderson, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for dental assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for dental assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a dental assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for dental assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for dental assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a dental assistant. While the absolute best city for dental assistants is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for dental assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a dental assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for dental assistants in 2025
1. Anchorage, AK
Dental assistant jobs in AnchorageTotal dental assistant jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $45,921 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 1.32 2. Glendale, AZ
Dental assistant jobs in GlendaleTotal dental assistant jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $36,319 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 1.94 3. Henderson, NV
Dental assistant jobs in HendersonTotal dental assistant jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $35,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 1.29 4. Toledo, OH
Dental assistant jobs in ToledoTotal dental assistant jobs: 31 Average annual salary: $33,896 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location quotient: 1.56 5. Mesa, AZ
Dental assistant jobs in MesaTotal dental assistant jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $36,222 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 1.37 6. Portland, OR
Dental assistant jobs in PortlandTotal dental assistant jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $42,925 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 0.92 7. Gilbert, AZ
Dental assistant jobs in GilbertTotal dental assistant jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $36,249 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 1.20 8. Hempstead, NY
Dental assistant jobs in HempsteadTotal dental assistant jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $39,787 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 2.02 9. Chesapeake, VA
Dental assistant jobs in ChesapeakeTotal dental assistant jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $39,263 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Location quotient: 1.00 10. Saint Paul, MN
Dental assistant jobs in Saint PaulTotal dental assistant jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $45,858 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location quotient: 0.65
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Best cities for dental assistants
- Anchorage, AK
- Glendale, AZ
- Henderson, NV
- Toledo, OH
- Mesa, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Gilbert, AZ
- Hempstead, NY
- Chesapeake, VA
- Saint Paul, MN
Detailed list of the best cities for a dental assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $45,921 | $37,000 | 298,192 | 30 |
| 2 | Glendale, AZ | $36,319 | $26,000 | 245,895 | 24 |
| 3 | Henderson, NV | $35,607 | $26,000 | 292,969 | 16 |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | $33,896 | $22,000 | 278,508 | 31 |
| 5 | Mesa, AZ | $36,222 | $26,000 | 484,587 | 29 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $42,925 | $31,000 | 639,863 | 140 |
| 7 | Gilbert, AZ | $36,249 | $26,000 | 237,133 | 13 |
| 8 | Hempstead, NY | $39,787 | $26,000 | 759,757 | 3 |
| 9 | Chesapeake, VA | $39,263 | $26,000 | 237,940 | 12 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $45,858 | $32,000 | 302,398 | 56 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $45,819 | $32,000 | 413,651 | 107 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $35,620 | $26,000 | 632,912 | 65 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $36,308 | $26,000 | 530,706 | 34 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,342 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 85 |
| 15 | Virginia Beach, VA | $39,578 | $26,000 | 452,602 | 21 |
| 16 | Nashville, TN | $34,530 | $25,000 | 660,388 | 54 |
| 17 | Wichita, KS | $33,671 | $25,000 | 389,902 | 45 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,967 | $28,000 | 465,101 | 100 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $36,305 | $26,000 | 245,255 | 14 |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $34,751 | $23,000 | 385,809 | 35 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,286 | $26,000 | 1,615,017 | 139 |
| 22 | Fort Wayne, IN | $37,199 | $25,000 | 264,488 | 10 |
| 23 | Scottsdale, AZ | $36,199 | $26,000 | 246,645 | 25 |
| 24 | Memphis, TN | $34,449 | $25,000 | 652,717 | 36 |
| 25 | El Paso, TX | $34,769 | $25,000 | 683,080 | 18 |
| 26 | Aurora, CO | $37,829 | $28,000 | 361,710 | 56 |
| 27 | North Las Vegas, NV | $35,537 | $26,000 | 238,702 | 2 |
| 28 | Corpus Christi, TX | $34,588 | $25,000 | 325,733 | 7 |
| 29 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $34,386 | $24,000 | 260,999 | 40 |
| 30 | Norfolk, VA | $39,425 | $26,000 | 245,115 | 14 |
| 31 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,139 | $25,000 | 855,164 | 50 |
| 32 | Raleigh, NC | $35,600 | $24,000 | 458,880 | 37 |
| 33 | Winston-Salem, NC | $35,029 | $24,000 | 242,203 | 8 |
| 34 | Laredo, TX | $34,920 | $25,000 | 257,156 | 3 |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $33,333 | $24,000 | 252,506 | 9 |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $36,400 | $23,000 | 303,625 | 43 |
| 37 | Columbus, OH | $33,394 | $22,000 | 860,090 | 77 |
| 38 | Chandler, AZ | $36,276 | $26,000 | 247,477 | 15 |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,433 | $22,000 | 298,800 | 45 |
| 40 | Detroit, MI | $36,693 | $24,000 | 672,795 | 13 |
| 41 | Newark, NJ | $41,304 | $26,000 | 281,764 | 11 |
| 42 | Greensboro, NC | $35,230 | $24,000 | 287,027 | 8 |
| 43 | Chula Vista, CA | $38,729 | $28,000 | 267,172 | 13 |
| 44 | Denver, CO | $37,835 | $28,000 | 693,060 | 168 |
| 45 | Boston, MA | $43,051 | $29,000 | 673,184 | 65 |
| 46 | Seattle, WA | $41,053 | $30,000 | 704,352 | 112 |
| 47 | Durham, NC | $35,618 | $24,000 | 263,016 | 11 |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,563 | $23,000 | 595,047 | 35 |
| 49 | Anaheim, CA | $39,023 | $28,000 | 351,043 | 22 |
| 50 | Baltimore, MD | $39,834 | $25,000 | 614,664 | 64 |
Highest paying cities for dental assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. dental assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Paul, MN | $45,858 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $43,051 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $42,925 |
| 4 | Lawrence, NJ | $41,631 |
| 5 | Vancouver, WA | $41,334 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $39,834 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $39,782 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,179 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $38,482 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,342 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,967 |
| 12 | Charleston, SC | $36,453 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $36,308 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $36,264 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $36,230 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $36,186 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,139 |
| 18 | Columbus, GA | $35,740 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $35,620 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, NC | $35,522 |
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Updated January 8, 2025