Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Assistant Salary in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro

The median dental assistant earns $59,890 a year in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro, with the middle half between $57,570 and $64,270.[1]

25th percentile

$57,570

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$59,890

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$64,270

Upper end of the middle half

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro runs about the same as the Oregon median and ranks 1st of 8 Oregon metros. It is about 25% higher than the national median.

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pay range vs. Oregon and the U.S.

Dental Assistant annual wages: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro vs. Oregon vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMetro annualOregon annualU.S. annual
10th percentile$47,290$49,010$37,130
25th percentile$57,570$56,600$44,340
Median$59,890$59,490$48,070
75th percentile$64,270$63,520$58,090
90th percentile$76,040$75,570$62,250
Mean (average)$60,700$60,110$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

4,120

About 69% of Oregon's total (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

3.41

Oregon: 3.01

Location quotient

1.37

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

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Dental Assistant salary in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro: FAQ

How much do dental assistants make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?

The median dental assistant salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area is $59,890, with the middle half earning between $57,570 and $64,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The full range runs from $47,290 at the 10th percentile to $76,040 at the 90th.

Is Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro higher or lower than the rest of Oregon?

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro runs about the same as the Oregon state median for dental assistants. It ranks 1st of 8 Oregon metro areas by median pay. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures.)

How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare nationally?

Dental Assistant pay in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro is about 25% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area?

BLS estimates 4,120 dental assistants were employed in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area in May 2025. Its location quotient is 1.37, so the role is more concentrated than the national average.