Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Texas
The median dental assistant earns $45,430 a year in Texas ($21.84 an hour), with the middle half earning between $37,360 and $48,280.[1]
25th percentile
$37,360
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$45,430
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$48,280
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $45,430 per year or $21.84/hr at the median. Texas runs about 5% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Texas
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 Texas earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Texas hourly | Texas annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.02 | $35,400 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $17.96 | $37,360 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $21.84 | $45,430 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $23.21 | $48,280 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $27.71 | $57,640 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $21.55 | $44,830 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Texas
33,230
2.36
0.95
How Texas compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $45,430 in Texas vs. $48,070 nationally, $2,640 (5%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $35,400 vs. $37,130, 5% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $57,640 vs. $62,250, 7% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 21.2% in Texas vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Texas
All 25 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $48,500 | $39,530–$58,420 | 3,010 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $47,570 | $45,370–$49,660 | 9,010 |
| Sherman-Denison | $46,040 | $38,060–$47,630 | 240 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $45,920 | $39,330–$47,150 | 3,820 |
| Midland | $45,820 | $38,490–$48,090 | 190 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $44,820 | $36,830–$46,520 | 350 |
| Killeen-Temple | $44,450 | $38,130–$47,330 | 470 |
| Odessa | $44,300 | $36,800–$46,800 | 150 |
| Amarillo | $44,010 | $36,910–$47,050 | 280 |
| Victoria | $43,980 | $36,160–$46,950 | 90 |
| Waco | $43,980 | $35,720–$47,320 | 250 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $43,730 | $36,960–$48,660 | 8,150 |
| College Station-Bryan | $43,630 | $35,880–$46,750 | 270 |
| Longview | $43,300 | $35,920–$45,750 | 280 |
| Wichita Falls | $40,280 | $36,670–$45,440 | 120 |
| Lubbock | $39,900 | $36,280–$45,650 | 440 |
| Abilene | $39,510 | $36,160–$46,250 | 170 |
| El Paso | $39,090 | $35,810–$45,320 | 840 |
| Corpus Christi | $38,730 | $37,480–$44,900 | 380 |
| San Angelo | $38,710 | $37,380–$44,680 | 110 |
| Tyler | $38,390 | $36,560–$46,230 | 370 |
| Texarkana | $38,180 | $35,640–$45,320 | 120 |
| Laredo | $37,900 | $35,470–$43,730 | 190 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $37,560 | $35,360–$44,370 | 330 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $37,230 | $30,800–$43,970 | 670 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Texas
Texas's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 21.2% over 2024–2034, from 30,700 to 37,200 jobs, with about 5,000 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 Texas
Licensing board: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE)[5]
Credentials:
- Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
Texas registers dental assistants (RDA) through the TSBDE. It does not issue a separately named expanded-function license.[6][7]
What drives dental assistant pay in Texas
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 Texas, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Texas: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Texas?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Texas was $45,430 ($21.84 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $37,360 and $48,280. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $35,400 and the top 10% earned over $57,640.
Do dental assistants in Texas earn more than the national median?
No. The Texas median of $45,430 is lower than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $2,640 (5%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Texas metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 25 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos has the highest median at $48,500 a year. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission has the lowest, at $37,230.
How many dental assistants work in Texas?
BLS estimates 33,230 dental assistants were employed in Texas in May 2025. That is 2.36 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.95, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Texas?
Texas's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 21.2% over 2024–2034, from 30,700 to 37,200 jobs. That works out to about 5,000 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 Texas?
Texas registers dental assistants (RDA) through the TSBDE. It does not issue a separately named expanded-function license. Credentials to know: Registered Dental Assistant (RDA). Requirements depend on which duties you perform, so check the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE) and DANB's Texas page for specifics.
Hiring in Texas?
Fill dental assistant roles across every location.
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Other roles in Texas
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, Texas long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants
- 5.Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE)
- 6.Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), dental assistant credentials
- 7.DANB, Texas dental assisting state requirements