Dental Assistants pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,010 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Boulder earn between $47,090 and $59,680.
- $47K10th
- $47K25th
- $59KMedian
- $60K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,560 | $4,630 | $26.71 |
| Median | $58,760 | $4,897 | $28.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,090 | $3,924 | $22.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,680 | $4,973 | $28.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Boulder vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Boulder earn 11% more than the Colorado average ($50,230) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $55,560 | $58,760 | $46,530 | $73,010 | 520 |
| Colorado | $50,230 | $48,340 | $38,500 | $60,540 | 8,360 |
| 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 Boulder
On the average salary of $55,560, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $45,086 a year, or $3,757 a month and $1,734 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $55,560 buys what about $52,813 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 13.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 1st of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boulder$55,560
- Denver$51,410
- Fort Collins$49,360
- Colorado Springs$49,170
- Greeley$48,000
- Grand Junction$46,540
- Pueblo$46,280
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 Boulder: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Boulder?
$26.71 an hour on average, and $28.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Boulder?
About $45,086 a year ($3,757 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,560. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more 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 Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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