Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Arkansas
The median dental assistant earns $42,830 a year in Arkansas ($20.59 an hour), with the middle half earning between $36,790 and $46,730.[1]
25th percentile
$36,790
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$42,830
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$46,730
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $42,830 per year or $20.59/hr at the median. Arkansas runs about 11% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Arkansas
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 Arkansas earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Arkansas hourly | Arkansas annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $16.85 | $35,060 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $17.69 | $36,790 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $20.59 | $42,830 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $22.47 | $46,730 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $23.24 | $48,330 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $20.25 | $42,130 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Arkansas
2,950
2.26
0.91
How Arkansas compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $42,830 in Arkansas vs. $48,070 nationally, $5,240 (11%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $35,060 vs. $37,130, 6% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $48,330 vs. $62,250, 22% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 19.5% in Arkansas vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Arkansas
All 7 Arkansas metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $48,200 | $40,650–$59,010 | 1,200 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $47,050 | $37,430–$48,260 | 680 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $45,140 | $37,690–$45,650 | 920 |
| Texarkana | $38,180 | $35,640–$45,320 | 120 |
| Hot Springs | $37,440 | $35,070–$43,870 | 100 |
| Fort Smith | $37,160 | $35,680–$45,000 | 220 |
| Jonesboro | $36,720 | $35,160–$45,670 | 170 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Arkansas
Arkansas's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 19.5% over 2024–2034, from 3,060 to 3,650 jobs, with about 490 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 Arkansas
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
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Dental Assistant salary in Arkansas: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Arkansas?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Arkansas was $42,830 ($20.59 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,790 and $46,730. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $35,060 and the top 10% earned over $48,330.
Do dental assistants in Arkansas earn more than the national median?
No. The Arkansas median of $42,830 is lower than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $5,240 (11%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Arkansas metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 7 Arkansas metro areas with published BLS data, Memphis has the highest median at $48,200 a year. Jonesboro has the lowest, at $36,720.
How many dental assistants work in Arkansas?
BLS estimates 2,950 dental assistants were employed in Arkansas in May 2025. That is 2.26 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.91, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Arkansas?
Arkansas's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 19.5% over 2024–2034, from 3,060 to 3,650 jobs. That works out to about 490 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
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Other roles in Arkansas
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, Arkansas long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants