Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Indiana
The median dental assistant earns $48,670 a year in Indiana ($23.40 an hour), with the middle half earning between $45,860 and $57,720.[1]
25th percentile
$45,860
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$48,670
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$57,720
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $48,670 per year or $23.40/hr at the median. Indiana runs about 1% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Indiana
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 Indiana earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Indiana hourly | Indiana annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.73 | $36,880 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $22.05 | $45,860 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $23.40 | $48,670 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $27.75 | $57,720 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $29.13 | $60,590 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $24.27 | $50,480 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Indiana
6,690
2.09
0.84
How Indiana compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $48,670 in Indiana vs. $48,070 nationally, $600 (1%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $36,880 vs. $37,130, about the same.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $60,590 vs. $62,250, 3% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 5.8% in Indiana vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Indiana
All 15 Indiana metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen | $52,830 | $48,560–$58,300 | 160 |
| Cincinnati | $49,590 | $46,680–$60,480 | 2,440 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $49,100 | $47,490–$60,050 | 1,500 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $48,970 | $47,490–$58,030 | 2,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $48,950 | $46,420–$58,210 | 10,490 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $48,920 | $44,450–$55,720 | 80 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $48,730 | $38,500–$53,740 | 190 |
| Fort Wayne | $48,670 | $47,150–$59,140 | 630 |
| Kokomo | $48,360 | $39,470–$57,510 | 140 |
| Bloomington | $48,170 | $44,370–$55,840 | 130 |
| Evansville | $48,000 | $45,270–$51,740 | 300 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $47,770 | $44,970–$56,960 | 360 |
| Columbus | $47,260 | $44,600–$49,180 | 120 |
| Terre Haute | $46,450 | $39,920–$47,210 | 110 |
| Muncie | $45,500 | $35,360–$49,350 | 140 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Indiana
Indiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 5.8% over 2024–2034, from 6,520 to 6,890 jobs, with about 900 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 Indiana
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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Browse open dental assistant roles in Indiana, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Indiana: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Indiana?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Indiana was $48,670 ($23.40 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $45,860 and $57,720. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,880 and the top 10% earned over $60,590.
Do dental assistants in Indiana earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Indiana median of $48,670 is higher than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $600 (1%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Indiana metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 15 Indiana metro areas with published BLS data, Elkhart-Goshen has the highest median at $52,830 a year. Muncie has the lowest, at $45,500.
How many dental assistants work in Indiana?
BLS estimates 6,690 dental assistants were employed in Indiana in May 2025. That is 2.09 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.84, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Indiana?
Indiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 5.8% over 2024–2034, from 6,520 to 6,890 jobs. That works out to about 900 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 Indiana
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, Indiana long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants