Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Kentucky
The median dental assistant earns $47,730 a year in Kentucky ($22.95 an hour), with the middle half earning between $42,400 and $56,760.[1]
25th percentile
$42,400
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$47,730
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$56,760
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $47,730 per year or $22.95/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Kentucky
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 Kentucky earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Kentucky hourly | Kentucky annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.11 | $35,600 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $20.38 | $42,400 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $22.95 | $47,730 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $27.29 | $56,760 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $29.83 | $62,050 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $23.29 | $48,440 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Kentucky
4,530
2.26
0.91
How Kentucky compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $47,730 in Kentucky vs. $48,070 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $35,600 vs. $37,130, 4% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $62,050 vs. $62,250, about the same.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 11.5% in Kentucky vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Kentucky
All 9 Kentucky metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $49,590 | $46,680–$60,480 | 2,440 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $49,100 | $47,490–$60,050 | 1,500 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $48,690 | $46,760–$58,430 | 750 |
| Paducah | $46,750 | $44,200–$57,620 | 190 |
| Elizabethtown | $46,410 | $43,990–$58,690 | 140 |
| Clarksville | $46,050 | $38,710–$52,440 | 320 |
| Bowling Green | $45,970 | $44,300–$58,960 | 220 |
| Owensboro | $45,330 | $42,550–$58,030 | 160 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $42,660 | $36,310–$46,370 | 240 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Kentucky
Kentucky's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 11.5% over 2024–2034, from 4,300 to 4,790 jobs, with about 630 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 Kentucky
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
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Dental Assistant salary in Kentucky: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Kentucky was $47,730 ($22.95 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $42,400 and $56,760. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $35,600 and the top 10% earned over $62,050.
Do dental assistants in Kentucky earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Kentucky median of $47,730 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 Kentucky metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 9 Kentucky metro areas with published BLS data, Cincinnati has the highest median at $49,590 a year. Huntington-Ashland has the lowest, at $42,660.
How many dental assistants work in Kentucky?
BLS estimates 4,530 dental assistants were employed in Kentucky in May 2025. That is 2.26 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.91, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Kentucky?
Kentucky's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 11.5% over 2024–2034, from 4,300 to 4,790 jobs. That works out to about 630 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Kentucky?
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Other roles in Kentucky
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, Kentucky long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants