Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in New York
The median dental assistant earns $48,110 a year in New York ($23.13 an hour), with the middle half earning between $44,730 and $58,630.[1]
25th percentile
$44,730
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$48,110
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$58,630
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $48,110 per year or $23.13/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in New York
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 New York earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | New York hourly | New York annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.50 | $36,410 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $21.51 | $44,730 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $23.13 | $48,110 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $28.19 | $58,630 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $29.08 | $60,490 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $23.95 | $49,820 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in New York
19,800
2.04
0.82
How New York compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $48,110 in New York vs. $48,070 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $36,410 vs. $37,130, 2% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $60,490 vs. $62,250, 3% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 8.7% in New York vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in New York
All 13 New York metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmira | $49,450 | $43,100–$51,090 | 40 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $49,120 | $46,720–$55,590 | 620 |
| Rochester | $48,780 | $46,130–$55,970 | 1,020 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $48,430 | $45,710–$60,000 | 20,870 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $48,220 | $46,520–$48,840 | 970 |
| Ithaca | $48,170 | $45,720–$56,120 | 100 |
| Kingston | $47,940 | $46,280–$50,900 | 130 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $47,610 | $46,660–$49,060 | 1,230 |
| Syracuse | $47,370 | $45,430–$48,950 | 690 |
| Glens Falls | $47,070 | $40,430–$49,200 | 110 |
| Utica-Rome | $46,560 | $44,590–$48,050 | 250 |
| Binghamton | $44,840 | $37,500–$46,530 | 270 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $43,010 | $38,660–$45,520 | 110 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in New York
New York's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 8.7% over 2024–2034, from 21,930 to 23,850 jobs, with about 3,130 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 New York
Licensing board: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Dentistry)[5]
Credentials:
- Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
New York requires a license to use the Registered Dental Assistant title.[6][7]
What drives dental assistant pay in New York
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 New York, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in New York: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in New York?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in New York was $48,110 ($23.13 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $44,730 and $58,630. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,410 and the top 10% earned over $60,490.
Do dental assistants in New York earn more than the national median?
About the same. The New York median of $48,110 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 New York metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 13 New York metro areas with published BLS data, Elmira has the highest median at $49,450 a year. Watertown-Fort Drum has the lowest, at $43,010.
How many dental assistants work in New York?
BLS estimates 19,800 dental assistants were employed in New York in May 2025. That is 2.04 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.82, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in New York?
New York's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 8.7% over 2024–2034, from 21,930 to 23,850 jobs. That works out to about 3,130 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 New York?
New York requires a license to use the Registered Dental Assistant title. Credentials to know: Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). Requirements depend on which duties you perform, so check the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Dentistry) and DANB's New York page for specifics.
Hiring in New York?
Fill dental assistant roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in New York
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, New York long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants
- 5.New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Dentistry)
- 6.New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Dentistry), dental assistant credentials
- 7.DANB, New York dental assisting state requirements