Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Assistant Salary in Iowa City

The median dental assistant earns $49,230 a year in the Iowa City metro, with the middle half between $47,910 and $58,070.[1]

25th percentile

$47,910

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$49,230

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$58,070

Upper end of the middle half

Iowa City runs about 2% higher than the Iowa median and ranks 2nd of 9 Iowa metros. It is about 2% higher than the national median.

Iowa City pay range vs. Iowa and the U.S.

Dental Assistant annual wages: Iowa City vs. Iowa vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMetro annualIowa annualU.S. annual
10th percentile$39,950$39,360$37,130
25th percentile$47,910$45,990$44,340
Median$49,230$48,430$48,070
75th percentile$58,070$57,620$58,090
90th percentile$58,850$59,580$62,250
Mean (average)$52,290$50,450$50,200

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] Gross wages for employees; excludes the self-employed. Comparisons in this page are DSO Hire calculations and are not adjusted for cost of living.

Employed in metro

280

About 9% of Iowa's total (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

2.94

Iowa: 2.06

Location quotient

1.18

1.00 = U.S. average; more concentrated than the national average

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Dental Assistant salary in Iowa City: FAQ

How much do dental assistants make in Iowa City?

The median dental assistant salary in the Iowa City metro area is $49,230, with the middle half earning between $47,910 and $58,070 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The full range runs from $39,950 at the 10th percentile to $58,850 at the 90th.

Is Iowa City higher or lower than the rest of Iowa?

Iowa City runs about 2% higher than the Iowa state median for dental assistants. It ranks 2nd of 9 Iowa metro areas by median pay. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures.)

How does Iowa City compare nationally?

Dental Assistant pay in Iowa City is about 2% higher than the U.S. median. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures, not adjusted for cost of living.)

How many dental assistants work in the Iowa City area?

BLS estimates 280 dental assistants were employed in the Iowa City metro area in May 2025. Its location quotient is 1.18, so the role is more concentrated than the national average.