Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Wisconsin
The median dental assistant earns $47,520 a year in Wisconsin ($22.85 an hour), with the middle half earning between $45,560 and $55,630.[1]
25th percentile
$45,560
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$47,520
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$55,630
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $47,520 per year or $22.85/hr at the median. Wisconsin runs about 1% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Wisconsin hourly | Wisconsin annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.99 | $39,500 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $21.91 | $45,560 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $22.85 | $47,520 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $26.75 | $55,630 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $28.29 | $58,840 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $23.63 | $49,150 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Wisconsin
7,760
2.64
1.06
How Wisconsin compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $47,520 in Wisconsin vs. $48,070 nationally, $550 (1%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $39,500 vs. $37,130, 6% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $58,840 vs. $62,250, 5% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 8.1% in Wisconsin vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Wisconsin
All 15 Wisconsin metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $72,370 | $63,050–$75,560 | 3,910 |
| Duluth | $59,390 | $48,500–$62,320 | 310 |
| Madison | $49,930 | $48,240–$58,430 | 920 |
| Fond du Lac | $49,470 | $46,080–$57,330 | 130 |
| Green Bay | $48,700 | $46,810–$55,340 | 410 |
| Sheboygan | $47,760 | $47,090–$57,060 | 160 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $47,750 | $45,550–$51,220 | 170 |
| Kenosha | $47,310 | $45,950–$48,450 | 180 |
| Appleton | $47,240 | $45,660–$56,760 | 370 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $47,180 | $45,360–$55,630 | 230 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $47,140 | $45,200–$50,060 | 2,400 |
| Eau Claire | $46,850 | $45,070–$53,460 | 330 |
| Wausau | $46,740 | $44,290–$52,560 | 230 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $46,440 | $45,360–$55,370 | 200 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $45,190 | $42,830–$47,320 | 310 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 8.1% over 2024–2034, from 6,820 to 7,370 jobs, with about 960 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 Wisconsin
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
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Dental Assistant salary in Wisconsin: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Wisconsin was $47,520 ($22.85 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $45,560 and $55,630. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $39,500 and the top 10% earned over $58,840.
Do dental assistants in Wisconsin earn more than the national median?
No. The Wisconsin median of $47,520 is lower than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $550 (1%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Wisconsin metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 15 Wisconsin metro areas with published BLS data, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington has the highest median at $72,370 a year. Racine-Mount Pleasant has the lowest, at $45,190.
How many dental assistants work in Wisconsin?
BLS estimates 7,760 dental assistants were employed in Wisconsin in May 2025. That is 2.64 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.06, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 8.1% over 2024–2034, from 6,820 to 7,370 jobs. That works out to about 960 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
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Other roles in Wisconsin
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, Wisconsin long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants