Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Arizona
The median dental assistant earns $49,000 a year in Arizona ($23.56 an hour), with the middle half earning between $46,050 and $57,880.[1]
25th percentile
$46,050
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$49,000
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$57,880
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $49,000 per year or $23.56/hr at the median. Arizona runs about 2% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Arizona
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental assistants in Arizona earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Arizona hourly | Arizona annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.51 | $38,500 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $22.14 | $46,050 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $23.56 | $49,000 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $27.83 | $57,880 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $28.55 | $59,380 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $24.17 | $50,280 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Arizona
8,680
2.68
1.07
How Arizona compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $49,000 in Arizona vs. $48,070 nationally, $930 (2%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $38,500 vs. $37,130, 4% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $59,380 vs. $62,250, 5% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 15.7% in Arizona vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Arizona
All 7 Arizona metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $49,760 | $46,860–$58,620 | 6,270 |
| Flagstaff | $48,900 | $42,990–$54,010 | 150 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $47,520 | $42,760–$52,590 | 300 |
| Tucson | $47,510 | $38,940–$49,540 | 970 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $47,070 | $44,150–$47,320 | 370 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $45,620 | $40,190–$48,740 | 80 |
| Yuma | $45,350 | $36,960–$47,510 | 130 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Arizona
Arizona's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 15.7% over 2024–2034, from 7,610 to 8,800 jobs, with about 1,170 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental assistant employment to grow 7% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 53,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental assistant pay in Arizona
Pay for a dental assistant depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental assistant roles in Arizona, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Arizona: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Arizona?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Arizona was $49,000 ($23.56 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $46,050 and $57,880. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $38,500 and the top 10% earned over $59,380.
Do dental assistants in Arizona earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Arizona median of $49,000 is higher than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $930 (2%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Arizona metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 7 Arizona metro areas with published BLS data, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has the highest median at $49,760 a year. Yuma has the lowest, at $45,350.
How many dental assistants work in Arizona?
BLS estimates 8,680 dental assistants were employed in Arizona in May 2025. That is 2.68 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.07, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Arizona?
Arizona's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 15.7% over 2024–2034, from 7,610 to 8,800 jobs. That works out to about 1,170 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Arizona?
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Other roles in Arizona
Dental Assistant salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Assistants (31-9091), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Arizona long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants