Dental Assistants pay range in Rockford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,560 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Rockford earn between $37,710 and $47,320.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $46KMedian
- $47K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,660 | $3,805 | $21.95 |
| Median | $45,970 | $3,831 | $22.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,710 | $3,142 | $18.13 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,320 | $3,943 | $22.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Rockford earn 7% less than the Illinois average ($48,990) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $45,660 | $45,970 | $36,460 | $58,560 | 530 |
| Illinois | $48,990 | $48,610 | $37,360 | $59,910 | 13,740 |
| 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 Rockford
On the average salary of $45,660, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $36,749 a year, or $3,062 a month and $1,413 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Rockford a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $45,660 buys what about $49,547 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Illinois cities
Rockford ranks 8th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($50,370).
- Chicago$50,370
- Champaign$47,680
- Decatur$47,680
- Bloomington$46,680
- Kankakee$46,450
- Springfield$46,080
- Peoria$45,930
- Rockford$45,660
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 Rockford: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Rockford?
$21.95 an hour on average, and $22.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Rockford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Rockford?
About $36,749 a year ($3,062 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,660.
Do dental assistants earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Rockford, IL (40420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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