Dental Assistants pay range in Paducah
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,260 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Paducah earn between $44,200 and $57,620.
- $35K10th
- $44K25th
- $47KMedian
- $58K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,700 | $3,975 | $22.93 |
| Median | $46,750 | $3,896 | $22.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,200 | $3,683 | $21.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,620 | $4,802 | $27.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Paducah vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Paducah earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($48,440) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | $47,700 | $46,750 | $35,020 | $59,260 | 190 |
| Kentucky | $48,440 | $47,730 | $35,600 | $62,050 | 4,530 |
| 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 Paducah
On the average salary of $47,700, a single filer in Paducah takes home about $38,001 a year, or $3,167 a month and $1,462 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Paducah, KY-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IL | $38,287 | $3,191 |
| Working in KY | $38,001 | $3,167 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Is Paducah a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Paducah area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 86.1), so the average $47,700 buys what about $55,411 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Paducah ($45,860). A typical home costs $171,436, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Kentucky cities
Paducah ranks 5th of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($52,000).
- Louisville$52,000
- Elizabethtown$50,950
- Lexington$50,580
- Bowling Green$48,950
- Paducah$47,700
- Owensboro$47,520
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 Paducah: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Paducah?
$22.94 an hour on average, and $22.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Paducah?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Paducah?
About $38,001 a year ($3,167 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,700. Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
Do dental assistants earn more in Paducah than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Paducah, KY-IL (37140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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). Includes Paducah's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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