Dental Assistants pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,870 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Rochester earn between $46,130 and $55,970.
- $39K10th
- $46K25th
- $49KMedian
- $56K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,200 | $4,100 | $23.65 |
| Median | $48,780 | $4,065 | $23.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,130 | $3,844 | $22.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,970 | $4,664 | $26.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Rochester earn about the same as the New York average ($49,820) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $49,200 | $48,780 | $39,170 | $59,870 | 1,020 |
| New York | $49,820 | $48,110 | $36,410 | $60,490 | 19,800 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $49,200, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $39,611 a year, or $3,301 a month and $1,524 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $49,200 buys what about $50,703 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 3rd of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($51,560).
- New York$51,560
- Kiryas Joel$49,760
- Rochester$49,200
- Ithaca$49,110
- Buffalo$48,380
- Kingston$48,340
- Albany$48,180
- Elmira$48,010
- Syracuse$47,940
- Glens Falls$46,150
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 Rochester: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Rochester?
$23.65 an hour on average, and $23.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Rochester?
About $39,611 a year ($3,301 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,200. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Rochester 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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