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Best states for a registered dental assistant
Quoted expert
Mario Alemagno
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Job opportunities vary from state to state, and healthcare support careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to registered dental assistant jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for registered dental assistants.In fact, our research shows that Minnesota is the best state for registered dental assistants in America. The best city in America for registered dental assistants with the highest pay is Arlington, MA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for registered dental assistants.If you are currently seeking employment as a registered dental assistant, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for registered dental assistants in 2026
1. Minnesota
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $47,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
2. Oregon
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 125 Average annual salary: $44,370 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
3. Alaska
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $45,913 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
4. Washington
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 364 Average annual salary: $42,059 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 2.03
5. Massachusetts
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $43,125 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 0.7
6. New Hampshire
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $40,413 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
7. New York
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 239 Average annual salary: $41,851 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
8. Pennsylvania
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $38,945 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
9. North Dakota
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $42,231 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.44
10. Michigan
Total registered dental assistant jobs: 268 Average annual salary: $37,195 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
Registered dental assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a registered dental assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a registered dental assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $47,799 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 248 |
| 2 | Oregon | $44,370 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 125 |
| 3 | Alaska | $45,913 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 27 |
| 4 | Washington | $42,059 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 364 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $43,125 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 157 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $40,413 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 29 |
| 7 | New York | $41,851 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 239 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $38,945 | $25,000 | 12,805,537 | 221 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $42,231 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 10 |
| 10 | Michigan | $37,195 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 268 |
| 11 | Maine | $38,287 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 29 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $40,405 | $27,000 | 1,059,639 | 13 |
| 13 | Indiana | $37,009 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 142 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $42,961 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 2 |
| 15 | Colorado | $38,394 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 223 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $40,254 | $26,000 | 3,588,184 | 51 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $36,275 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 143 |
| 18 | California | $40,482 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 806 |
| 19 | Vermont | $40,822 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 8 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $41,459 | $27,000 | 9,005,644 | 79 |
| 21 | Nevada | $36,312 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 48 |
| 22 | Virginia | $39,251 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 174 |
| 23 | Arizona | $36,317 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 184 |
| 24 | Iowa | $37,633 | $27,000 | 3,145,711 | 43 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $34,575 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 229 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $34,652 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 159 |
| 27 | Georgia | $35,470 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 279 |
| 28 | Illinois | $36,854 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 218 |
| 29 | Maryland | $39,541 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 101 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $42,289 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 10 |
| 31 | Florida | $34,288 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 790 |
| 32 | Ohio | $34,200 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 179 |
| 33 | Delaware | $38,357 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 5 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $35,042 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 153 |
| 35 | Kansas | $34,070 | $25,000 | 2,913,123 | 50 |
| 36 | Idaho | $33,954 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 25 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $32,876 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 15 |
| 38 | Missouri | $32,200 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 195 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $31,420 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 72 |
| 40 | Texas | $32,271 | $23,000 | 28,304,596 | 456 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $32,832 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 31 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $31,643 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 80 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $32,701 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 30 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $29,866 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 118 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $36,132 | $23,000 | 693,972 | 13 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $31,155 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 18 |
| 47 | Utah | $32,352 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 18 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $30,226 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 41 |
| 49 | Montana | $31,399 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 10 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,442 | $21,000 | 4,874,747 | 56 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $28,098 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 15 |
Highest paying states for registered dental assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Registered Dental Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $47,799 |
| 2 | Oregon | $44,370 |
| 3 | Alaska | $45,913 |
| 4 | Washington | $42,059 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $43,125 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $40,413 |
| 7 | New York | $41,851 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $38,945 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $42,231 |
| 10 | Michigan | $37,195 |
| 11 | Maine | $38,287 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $40,405 |
| 13 | Indiana | $37,009 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $42,961 |
| 15 | Colorado | $38,394 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $40,254 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $36,275 |
| 18 | California | $40,482 |
| 19 | Vermont | $40,822 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $41,459 |
| 21 | Nevada | $36,312 |
| 22 | Virginia | $39,251 |
| 23 | Arizona | $36,317 |
| 24 | Iowa | $37,633 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $34,575 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $34,652 |
| 27 | Georgia | $35,470 |
| 28 | Illinois | $36,854 |
| 29 | Maryland | $39,541 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $42,289 |
| 31 | Florida | $34,288 |
| 32 | Ohio | $34,200 |
| 33 | Delaware | $38,357 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $35,042 |
| 35 | Kansas | $34,070 |
| 36 | Idaho | $33,954 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $32,876 |
| 38 | Missouri | $32,200 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $31,420 |
| 40 | Texas | $32,271 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $32,832 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $31,643 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $32,701 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $29,866 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $36,132 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $31,155 |
| 47 | Utah | $32,352 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $30,226 |
| 49 | Montana | $31,399 |
| 50 | Alabama | $29,442 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $28,098 |
Expert opinions on the best states for registered dental assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for registered dental assistants to find work opportunities?
Mario Alemagno
Dental Coach, Business Coach, Life Coach, Dental School
The coronavirus pandemic may have improved, what I believe, has always been a good professional field opportunity. The need for good dental care is everywhere. I don't believe any single place can be selected over another. Many veteran dentists were making their decision to retire or sell their practices with all the changes to PPE's and increased time-consuming infection control procedures that are now necessary. This makes it all that much more exciting for graduating dentists. The education the students now get prepares them for this. Knowing this makes them more comfortable in their future endeavors.
Registered dental assistant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025