Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Illinois
The median dental assistant earns $48,610 a year in Illinois ($23.37 an hour), with the middle half earning between $40,390 and $56,860.[1]
25th percentile
$40,390
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$48,610
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$56,860
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $48,610 per year or $23.37/hr at the median. Illinois runs about 1% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Illinois
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 Illinois earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Illinois hourly | Illinois annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.96 | $37,360 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $19.42 | $40,390 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $23.37 | $48,610 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $27.34 | $56,860 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $28.80 | $59,910 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $23.56 | $48,990 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Illinois
13,740
2.25
0.90
How Illinois compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $48,610 in Illinois vs. $48,070 nationally, $540 (1%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $37,360 vs. $37,130, about the same.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $59,910 vs. $62,250, 4% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 5.1% in Illinois vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Illinois
All 12 Illinois metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $48,950 | $46,420–$58,210 | 10,490 |
| St. Louis | $48,120 | $44,110–$58,240 | 2,990 |
| Decatur | $47,770 | $43,630–$55,680 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $47,410 | $45,770–$57,410 | 380 |
| Peoria | $47,280 | $37,320–$50,600 | 300 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $47,120 | $42,570–$56,550 | 180 |
| Paducah | $46,750 | $44,200–$57,620 | 190 |
| Bloomington | $46,390 | $38,070–$50,370 | 140 |
| Rockford | $45,970 | $37,710–$47,320 | 530 |
| Kankakee | $45,610 | $44,150–$48,000 | 60 |
| Springfield | $45,390 | $35,250–$48,740 | 360 |
| Cape Girardeau | $44,370 | $37,840–$46,950 | 150 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Illinois
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 5.1% over 2024–2034, from 14,580 to 15,320 jobs, with about 1,990 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 Illinois
Licensing board: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry[5]
Credentials:
- Dental Assistant Qualified in Expanded Functions
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant
Illinois does not license dental assistants through IDFPR. DANB lists the expanded-function qualifications Illinois recognizes.[6]
What drives dental assistant pay in Illinois
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 Illinois, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Illinois: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Illinois was $48,610 ($23.37 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $40,390 and $56,860. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $37,360 and the top 10% earned over $59,910.
Do dental assistants in Illinois earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Illinois median of $48,610 is higher than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $540 (1%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Illinois metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 12 Illinois metro areas with published BLS data, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has the highest median at $48,950 a year. Cape Girardeau has the lowest, at $44,370.
How many dental assistants work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 13,740 dental assistants were employed in Illinois in May 2025. That is 2.25 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.90, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Illinois?
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 5.1% over 2024–2034, from 14,580 to 15,320 jobs. That works out to about 1,990 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 Illinois?
Illinois does not license dental assistants through IDFPR. DANB lists the expanded-function qualifications Illinois recognizes. Credentials to know: Dental Assistant Qualified in Expanded Functions; Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. Requirements depend on which duties you perform, so check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry and DANB's Illinois page for specifics.
Hiring in Illinois?
Fill dental assistant roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Illinois
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, Illinois long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants
- 5.Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry
- 6.Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry, dental assistant credentials