Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Florida
The median dental assistant earns $47,620 a year in Florida ($22.89 an hour), with the middle half earning between $45,120 and $54,690.[1]
25th percentile
$45,120
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$47,620
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$54,690
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $47,620 per year or $22.89/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Florida
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 Florida earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Florida hourly | Florida annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.17 | $37,800 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $21.69 | $45,120 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $22.89 | $47,620 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $26.29 | $54,690 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $28.31 | $58,880 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $23.32 | $48,500 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Florida
26,620
2.68
1.07
How Florida compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $47,620 in Florida vs. $48,070 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $37,800 vs. $37,130, 2% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $58,880 vs. $62,250, 5% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 13.7% in Florida vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Florida
All 22 Florida metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $57,260 | $48,730–$61,290 | 550 |
| Punta Gorda | $51,020 | $46,080–$51,400 | 200 |
| Jacksonville | $50,270 | $47,490–$58,430 | 1,850 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $48,190 | $46,640–$59,610 | 1,170 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $47,860 | $45,930–$56,070 | 9,180 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $47,400 | $46,580–$57,600 | 800 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $47,180 | $46,160–$54,840 | 300 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $46,890 | $45,080–$55,150 | 3,560 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $46,670 | $44,430–$56,910 | 580 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $46,480 | $44,800–$54,080 | 3,260 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $46,430 | $45,660–$48,410 | 220 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $46,420 | $44,470–$48,970 | 180 |
| Port St. Lucie | $46,420 | $44,350–$48,860 | 530 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $46,370 | $45,450–$48,960 | 900 |
| Gainesville | $46,340 | $45,330–$48,600 | 440 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $46,180 | $43,790–$48,810 | 550 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $46,120 | $44,000–$53,220 | 150 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $45,530 | $38,410–$46,750 | 670 |
| Tallahassee | $45,330 | $38,190–$46,610 | 340 |
| Sebring | $45,200 | $43,030–$46,000 | 90 |
| Homosassa Springs | $45,140 | $44,430–$48,100 | 100 |
| Ocala | $44,900 | $43,390–$47,040 | 370 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Florida
Florida's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 13.7% over 2024–2034, from 23,180 to 26,360 jobs, with about 3,490 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.
Dental assistant credentials in Florida
Licensing board: Florida Board of Dentistry[5]
Florida has no individual dental assistant license. The Board approves expanded duties programs, which issue certificates of completion.[6][7]
What drives dental assistant pay in Florida
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 Florida, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Florida: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Florida?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Florida was $47,620 ($22.89 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $45,120 and $54,690. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $37,800 and the top 10% earned over $58,880.
Do dental assistants in Florida earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Florida median of $47,620 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 Florida metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 22 Florida metro areas with published BLS data, Naples-Marco Island has the highest median at $57,260 a year. Ocala has the lowest, at $44,900.
How many dental assistants work in Florida?
BLS estimates 26,620 dental assistants were employed in Florida 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 Florida?
Florida's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 13.7% over 2024–2034, from 23,180 to 26,360 jobs. That works out to about 3,490 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
What credentials do dental assistants need in Florida?
Florida has no individual dental assistant license. The Board approves expanded duties programs, which issue certificates of completion. Requirements depend on which duties you perform, so check the Florida Board of Dentistry and DANB's Florida page for specifics.
Hiring in Florida?
Fill dental assistant roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Florida
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, Florida long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants
- 5.Florida Board of Dentistry
- 6.Florida Board of Dentistry, dental assistant credentials
- 7.DANB, Florida dental assisting state requirements