Dental Assistants pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $55,160 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Houston earn between $36,960 and $48,660.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $44KMedian
- $49K75th
- $55K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,010 | $3,584 | $20.68 |
| Median | $43,730 | $3,644 | $21.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,660 | $4,055 | $23.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Houston earn 4% less than the Texas average ($44,830) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $43,010 | $43,730 | $30,540 | $55,160 | 8,150 |
| Texas | $44,830 | $45,430 | $35,400 | $57,640 | 33,230 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $43,010, a single filer in Houston takes home about $36,739 a year, or $3,062 a month and $1,413 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $43,010 buys what about $43,608 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 12th of 25 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($51,440).
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 Houston: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Houston?
$20.68 an hour on average, and $21.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Houston?
About $36,739 a year ($3,062 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,010. Texas has no state income tax.
Do dental assistants earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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