Dental Assistants pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,780 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Boston earn between $48,770 and $61,050.
- $48K10th
- $49K25th
- $58KMedian
- $61K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,520 | $4,793 | $27.65 |
| Median | $58,160 | $4,847 | $27.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,770 | $4,064 | $23.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,050 | $5,088 | $29.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($56,640) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $57,520 | $58,160 | $47,780 | $72,780 | 7,190 |
| Massachusetts | $56,640 | $57,980 | $47,270 | $72,790 | 9,680 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $57,520, a single filer in Boston takes home about $45,841 a year, or $3,820 a month and $1,763 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $48,397 | $4,033 |
| Working in MA | $45,841 | $3,820 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $57,520 buys what about $53,128 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 12.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$57,520
- Barnstable$56,510
- Worcester$54,070
- Amherst$53,720
- Pittsfield$52,180
- Springfield$52,070
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Dental Assistants salary in Boston: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Boston?
$27.66 an hour on average, and $27.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Boston?
About $45,841 a year ($3,820 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,520. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.