Dental Assistants pay range in Waco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,690 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Waco earn between $35,720 and $47,320.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $44KMedian
- $47K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,390 | $3,616 | $20.86 |
| Median | $43,980 | $3,665 | $21.14 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,720 | $2,977 | $17.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,320 | $3,943 | $22.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Waco vs. Texas and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Waco earn 3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | $43,390 | $43,980 | $35,040 | $57,690 | 250 |
| 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 Waco
On the average salary of $43,390, a single filer in Waco takes home about $37,044 a year, or $3,087 a month and $1,425 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 Waco a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waco area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.5), so the average $43,390 buys what about $46,883 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Waco ($46,020). A typical home costs $256,772, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Texas cities
Waco ranks 10th 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 Waco: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Waco?
$20.86 an hour on average, and $21.14 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Waco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Waco?
About $37,044 a year ($3,087 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,390. Texas has no state income tax.
Do dental assistants earn more in Waco 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 Waco, TX (47380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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