Dental Assistants pay range in McAllen
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,490 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in McAllen earn between $30,800 and $43,970.
- $30K10th
- $31K25th
- $37KMedian
- $44K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,630 | $3,219 | $18.57 |
| Median | $37,230 | $3,102 | $17.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,800 | $2,567 | $14.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,970 | $3,664 | $21.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in McAllen vs. Texas and the U.S.
Dental assistants in McAllen earn 14% less than the Texas average ($44,830) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen | $38,630 | $37,230 | $29,960 | $45,490 | 670 |
| 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 McAllen
On the average salary of $38,630, a single filer in McAllen takes home about $33,219 a year, or $2,768 a month and $1,278 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is McAllen a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the McAllen area are 14% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 85.9), so the average $38,630 buys what about $44,974 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in McAllen ($35,830). A typical home costs $193,978, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Texas cities
McAllen ranks 25th 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 McAllen: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in McAllen?
$18.57 an hour on average, and $17.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in McAllen?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in McAllen?
About $33,219 a year ($2,768 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,630. Texas has no state income tax.
Do dental assistants earn more in McAllen than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX (32580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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