Dental Assistants pay range in Tucson
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $56,580 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Tucson earn between $38,940 and $49,540.
- $38K10th
- $39K25th
- $48KMedian
- $50K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,740 | $3,895 | $22.47 |
| Median | $47,510 | $3,959 | $22.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,940 | $3,245 | $18.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,540 | $4,128 | $23.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Tucson vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Tucson earn 7% less than the Arizona average ($50,280) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $46,740 | $47,510 | $37,580 | $56,580 | 970 |
| Arizona | $50,280 | $49,000 | $38,500 | $59,380 | 8,680 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in Tucson
On the average salary of $46,740, a single filer in Tucson takes home about $38,961 a year, or $3,247 a month and $1,498 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Tucson a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tucson area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $46,740 buys what about $48,237 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Tucson ($47,760). A typical home costs $343,580, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Arizona cities
Tucson ranks 4th of 7 Arizona metro areas for this job; Phoenix pays the most ($51,520).
- Phoenix$51,520
- Flagstaff$48,330
- Prescott Valley$47,240
- Tucson$46,740
- Lake Havasu City$46,060
- Sierra Vista$45,160
- Yuma$44,160
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in Tucson: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Tucson?
$22.47 an hour on average, and $22.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Tucson?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Tucson?
About $38,961 a year ($3,247 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,740.
Do dental assistants earn more in Tucson than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9091; area Tucson, AZ (46060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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