Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Rhode Island
The median dental assistant earns $50,150 a year in Rhode Island ($24.11 an hour), with the middle half earning between $48,070 and $59,170.[1]
25th percentile
$48,070
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$50,150
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$59,170
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $50,150 per year or $24.11/hr at the median. Rhode Island runs about 4% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Rhode Island hourly | Rhode Island annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $21.94 | $45,640 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $23.11 | $48,070 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $24.11 | $50,150 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $28.45 | $59,170 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $29.28 | $60,900 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $25.38 | $52,790 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Rhode Island
1,050
2.10
0.84
How Rhode Island compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $50,150 in Rhode Island vs. $48,070 nationally, $2,080 (4%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $45,640 vs. $37,130, 23% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $60,900 vs. $62,250, 2% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -0.4% in Rhode Island vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Rhode Island
BLS publishes one Rhode Island metro area for this role.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $49,460 | $47,830–$58,480 | 1,650 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Rhode Island
Rhode Island's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to change 0.4% over 2024–2034, from 1,130 to 1,130 jobs, with about 140 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 Rhode Island
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.
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Dental Assistant salary in Rhode Island: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Rhode Island was $50,150 ($24.11 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $48,070 and $59,170. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $45,640 and the top 10% earned over $60,900.
Do dental assistants in Rhode Island earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Rhode Island median of $50,150 is higher than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $2,080 (4%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental assistants work in Rhode Island?
BLS estimates 1,050 dental assistants were employed in Rhode Island in May 2025. That is 2.10 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.84, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to change 0.4% over 2024–2034, from 1,130 to 1,130 jobs. That works out to about 140 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Rhode Island?
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Other roles in Rhode Island
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, Rhode Island long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants