Dental Assistants pay range in Fort Wayne
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,970 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,840 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Fort Wayne earn between $47,150 and $59,140.
- $38K10th
- $47K25th
- $49KMedian
- $59K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,060 | $4,255 | $24.55 |
| Median | $48,670 | $4,056 | $23.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,150 | $3,929 | $22.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,140 | $4,928 | $28.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Fort Wayne vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Fort Wayne earn about the same as the Indiana average ($50,480) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne | $51,060 | $48,670 | $37,970 | $60,840 | 630 |
| Indiana | $50,480 | $48,670 | $36,880 | $60,590 | 6,690 |
| 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 Fort Wayne
On the average salary of $51,060, a single filer in Fort Wayne takes home about $40,909 a year, or $3,409 a month and $1,573 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). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Is Fort Wayne a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fort Wayne area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $51,060 buys what about $55,157 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Fort Wayne ($47,700). A typical home costs $259,816, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Indiana cities
Fort Wayne ranks 3rd of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Elkhart pays the most ($54,820).
- Elkhart$54,820
- Indianapolis$51,810
- Fort Wayne$51,060
- South Bend$49,830
- Bloomington$49,560
- Kokomo$49,150
- Michigan City$48,930
- Lafayette$47,930
- Evansville$47,870
- Columbus$47,740
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 Fort Wayne: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Fort Wayne?
$24.55 an hour on average, and $23.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Fort Wayne?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,970 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Fort Wayne?
About $40,909 a year ($3,409 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,060. Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
Do dental assistants earn more in Fort Wayne than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Fort Wayne, IN (23060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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). Includes Fort Wayne's local income tax (1.59%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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