Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Colorado
The median dental assistant earns $48,340 a year in Colorado ($23.24 an hour), with the middle half earning between $45,520 and $58,340.[1]
25th percentile
$45,520
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$48,340
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$58,340
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $48,340 per year or $23.24/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Colorado
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 Colorado earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Colorado hourly | Colorado annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.51 | $38,500 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $21.89 | $45,520 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $23.24 | $48,340 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $28.05 | $58,340 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $29.10 | $60,540 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $24.15 | $50,230 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Colorado
8,360
2.91
1.17
How Colorado compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $48,340 in Colorado vs. $48,070 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $38,500 vs. $37,130, 4% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $60,540 vs. $62,250, 3% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 16.8% in Colorado vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Colorado
All 7 Colorado metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $58,760 | $47,090–$59,680 | 520 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $49,490 | $46,980–$58,990 | 4,160 |
| Colorado Springs | $48,290 | $45,360–$58,340 | 1,360 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $48,080 | $44,300–$54,900 | 510 |
| Greeley | $47,270 | $40,530–$54,860 | 360 |
| Grand Junction | $46,350 | $40,940–$49,380 | 300 |
| Pueblo | $45,710 | $42,850–$47,830 | 260 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Colorado
Colorado's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 16.8% over 2024–2034, from 7,760 to 9,060 jobs, with about 1,210 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 Colorado
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 Colorado, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Colorado: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Colorado?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Colorado was $48,340 ($23.24 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $45,520 and $58,340. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $38,500 and the top 10% earned over $60,540.
Do dental assistants in Colorado earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Colorado median of $48,340 is about the same as the U.S. median of $48,070. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Colorado metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 7 Colorado metro areas with published BLS data, Boulder has the highest median at $58,760 a year. Pueblo has the lowest, at $45,710.
How many dental assistants work in Colorado?
BLS estimates 8,360 dental assistants were employed in Colorado in May 2025. That is 2.91 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.17, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Colorado?
Colorado's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 16.8% over 2024–2034, from 7,760 to 9,060 jobs. That works out to about 1,210 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Colorado?
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Other roles in Colorado
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, Colorado long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants