Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Delaware
The median dental assistant earns $47,600 a year in Delaware ($22.89 an hour), with the middle half earning between $43,480 and $55,650.[1]
25th percentile
$43,480
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$47,600
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$55,650
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $47,600 per year or $22.89/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Delaware
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 Delaware earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Delaware hourly | Delaware annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.50 | $36,410 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $20.91 | $43,480 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $22.89 | $47,600 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $26.76 | $55,650 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $27.33 | $56,840 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $22.85 | $47,520 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Delaware
990
2.04
0.82
How Delaware compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $47,600 in Delaware vs. $48,070 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $36,410 vs. $37,130, 2% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $56,840 vs. $62,250, 9% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 4.6% in Delaware vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Delaware
All 2 Delaware metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $49,570 | $47,490–$57,070 | 6,510 |
| Dover | $45,700 | $38,880–$47,270 | 190 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Delaware
Delaware's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 4.6% over 2024–2034, from 1,160 to 1,210 jobs, with about 160 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 Delaware
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.
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Dental Assistant salary in Delaware: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Delaware?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Delaware was $47,600 ($22.89 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $43,480 and $55,650. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,410 and the top 10% earned over $56,840.
Do dental assistants in Delaware earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Delaware median of $47,600 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 Delaware metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 2 Delaware metro areas with published BLS data, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has the highest median at $49,570 a year. Dover has the lowest, at $45,700.
How many dental assistants work in Delaware?
BLS estimates 990 dental assistants were employed in Delaware in May 2025. That is 2.04 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.82, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Delaware?
Delaware's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 4.6% over 2024–2034, from 1,160 to 1,210 jobs. That works out to about 160 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Delaware?
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Other roles in Delaware
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, Delaware long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants