Dental assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Dental assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates dental assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our dental assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about dental assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 346,031 dental assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 88.5% of all dental assistants are women, while 11.5% are men.
- The average dental assistant age is 37 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of dental assistants is White (52.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (24.4%), Asian (9.1%) and Black or African American (8.3%).
- Dental assistants are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- Saint Paul, MN pays an annual average wage of $45,858, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women dental assistants earned 96% of what men earned.
- Minnesota is the best state for dental assistants to live.
- Dental assistants are 76% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On this page
Dental assistant demographics by:
Dental assistant gender statistics
88.5% of dental assistants are women and 11.5% of dental assistants are men.
- Female, 88.5%
- Male, 11.5%
Dental assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 88.5% |
| Male | 11.5% |
Dental assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$39,838
Female income
$38,201
Dental assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in dental assistant positions over time. Currently, 88.5% of dental assistants are female.
Dental assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.13% | 93.87% |
| 2011 | 7.05% | 92.95% |
| 2012 | 7.38% | 92.62% |
| 2013 | 6.96% | 93.04% |
| 2014 | 8.28% | 91.72% |
| 2015 | 8.80% | 91.20% |
| 2016 | 7.07% | 92.93% |
| 2017 | 9.09% | 90.91% |
| 2018 | 8.60% | 91.40% |
| 2019 | 9.42% | 90.58% |
| 2020 | 8.21% | 91.79% |
| 2021 | 11.46% | 88.54% |
Dental assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared dental assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, delivery technician and donations attendant have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology Transcriptionist | 3% | 97% |
| Radiology Transcriptionist | 5% | 95% |
| Certified Registered Dental Assistant | 5% | 95% |
| Dental Assistant | 11% | 89% |
| Dental Officer | 79% | 21% |
| Donations Attendant | 81% | 19% |
| Delivery Technician | 88% | 12% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Dental assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among dental assistants is White, which makes up 52.3% of all dental assistants. Comparatively, 24.4% of dental assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 9.1% of dental assistants are Asian.
- White, 52.3%
- Hispanic or Latino, 24.4%
- Asian, 9.1%
- Black or African American, 8.3%
- Unknown, 5.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Dental assistant race
| Dental assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 52.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24.4% |
| Asian | 9.1% |
| Black or African American | 8.3% |
| Unknown | 5.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Dental assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how dental assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Dental assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 62.28% | 9.22% | 6.67% | 19.03% |
| 2011 | 59.33% | 9.29% | 6.41% | 21.31% |
| 2012 | 57.56% | 10.23% | 7.17% | 21.80% |
| 2013 | 59.68% | 9.44% | 7.47% | 20.03% |
| 2014 | 59.01% | 9.26% | 7.47% | 21.18% |
| 2015 | 58.95% | 9.01% | 6.55% | 21.93% |
| 2016 | 58.46% | 8.33% | 7.50% | 22.10% |
| 2017 | 56.37% | 8.89% | 7.98% | 23.69% |
| 2018 | 57.41% | 9.18% | 7.42% | 22.28% |
| 2019 | 55.27% | 7.36% | 8.83% | 24.56% |
| 2020 | 53.92% | 8.71% | 7.85% | 23.70% |
| 2021 | 52.31% | 8.28% | 9.11% | 24.44% |
Dental assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, white dental assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino dental assistants have the lowest average salary at $39,339.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $40,069 |
| White | $40,183 |
| Black or African American | $39,498 |
| Asian | $40,107 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,339 |
Average dental assistant age
See how the average age of dental assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Dental assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 38.5 | 37.5 |
| Unknown | 37 | |
| Asian | 35 | 39 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 27 | 33 |
| White | 31 | 38 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 38 |
Dental assistant age breakdown
The average age of dental assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 42% of the dental assistant population.
Dental assistant age breakdown
| Dental Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 42% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 29% |
Dental assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for dental assistants is associate degree, with 23% of dental assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 20% and bachelor's degree degree at 18%.
- Associate, 23%
- Bachelor's, 20%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Diploma, 17%
- Other Degrees, 22%
Dental assistants by degree level
| Dental assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 23% |
| Bachelor's | 20% |
| High School Diploma | 18% |
| Diploma | 17% |
| Other Degrees | 22% |
Dental assistant jobs you might like
Dental assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, dental assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $40,131 annually. With a Associate degree, dental assistants earn a median annual income of $39,972 compared to $38,699 for dental assistants with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,699 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $40,131 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $39,972 |
Dental assistant employment statistics
Most dental assistants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where dental assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where dental assistants work.
Dental assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 10% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 27% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 25% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 8% |
Dental assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the dental assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most dental assistants prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Dental assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 13% |
| Public | 5% |
| Private | 76% |
| Government | 7% |
Dental assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for dental assistants are health care, education and professional.
Dental assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 53% |
| Education | 12% |
| Government | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Fortune 500 | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Dental assistant turnover and employment statistics
Dental assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for dental assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dental assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Dental assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.40% |
| 2011 | 6.02% |
| 2012 | 6.48% |
| 2013 | 4.50% |
| 2014 | 3.59% |
| 2015 | 3.37% |
| 2016 | 2.86% |
| 2017 | 2.92% |
| 2018 | 2.56% |
| 2019 | 2.55% |
| 2020 | 4.23% |
| 2021 | 4.10% |
Average dental assistant tenure
The average dental assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 95,640 dental assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Dental assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 30% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 14% |
| 5-7 years | 14% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Dental assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of dental assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistant | 4.40% | - |
| Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant | 5.81% | 128,758 |
| Research Phlebotomist | 7.76% | 55,049 |
| Senior Medical Transcriptionist | 8.65% | 44,673 |
| Ancillary | 9.41% | 3,569 |
| Kennel Assistant | 9.55% | 111,321 |
| Massage Therapist | 13.02% | 34,262 |
Similar dental assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant | 5.81% | 128,758 |
| Research Phlebotomist | 7.76% | 55,049 |
| Senior Medical Transcriptionist | 8.65% | 44,673 |
| Ancillary | 9.41% | 3,569 |
| Kennel Assistant | 9.55% | 111,321 |
| Massage Therapist | 13.02% | 34,262 |
Foreign languages spoken by dental assistants
The most common foreign language among dental assistants is Spanish at 60.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Polish at 10.8% and Russian is the third-most popular at 3.6%.
- Spanish, 60.8%
- Polish, 10.8%
- Russian, 3.6%
- French, 2.8%
- Arabic, 2.6%
- Other, 19.4%
Dental assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.8% |
| Polish | 10.8% |
| Russian | 3.6% |
| French | 2.8% |
| Arabic | 2.6% |
| Other | 19.4% |
