Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Iowa
The median dental assistant earns $48,430 a year in Iowa ($23.28 an hour), with the middle half earning between $45,990 and $57,620.[1]
25th percentile
$45,990
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$48,430
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$57,620
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $48,430 per year or $23.28/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Iowa
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 Iowa earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Iowa hourly | Iowa annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.92 | $39,360 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $22.11 | $45,990 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $23.28 | $48,430 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $27.70 | $57,620 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $28.65 | $59,580 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $24.25 | $50,450 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Iowa
3,210
2.06
0.83
How Iowa compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $48,430 in Iowa vs. $48,070 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $39,360 vs. $37,130, 6% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $59,580 vs. $62,250, 4% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 13.8% in Iowa vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Iowa
All 9 Iowa metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $50,020 | $47,840–$57,850 | 660 |
| Iowa City | $49,230 | $47,910–$58,070 | 280 |
| Ames | $49,140 | $47,650–$58,640 | 110 |
| Sioux City | $48,590 | $46,940–$58,140 | 190 |
| Cedar Rapids | $48,310 | $47,220–$57,600 | 370 |
| Omaha | $48,020 | $45,380–$50,660 | 1,150 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $47,970 | $46,840–$57,520 | 170 |
| Dubuque | $47,850 | $46,350–$52,180 | 160 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $47,410 | $45,770–$57,410 | 380 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Iowa
Iowa's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 13.8% over 2024–2034, from 3,640 to 4,140 jobs, with about 550 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 Iowa
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 Iowa, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Iowa: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Iowa?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Iowa was $48,430 ($23.28 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $45,990 and $57,620. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $39,360 and the top 10% earned over $59,580.
Do dental assistants in Iowa earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Iowa median of $48,430 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 Iowa metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 9 Iowa metro areas with published BLS data, Des Moines-West Des Moines has the highest median at $50,020 a year. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island has the lowest, at $47,410.
How many dental assistants work in Iowa?
BLS estimates 3,210 dental assistants were employed in Iowa in May 2025. That is 2.06 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.83, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Iowa?
Iowa's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 13.8% over 2024–2034, from 3,640 to 4,140 jobs. That works out to about 550 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Iowa?
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Other roles in Iowa
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, Iowa long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants