Dental Assistants pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,080 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Madison earn between $48,240 and $58,430.
- $47K10th
- $48K25th
- $50KMedian
- $58K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,550 | $4,379 | $25.26 |
| Median | $49,930 | $4,161 | $24.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,240 | $4,020 | $23.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,430 | $4,869 | $28.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Madison earn 7% more than the Wisconsin average ($49,150) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $52,550 | $49,930 | $46,720 | $61,080 | 920 |
| Wisconsin | $49,150 | $47,520 | $39,500 | $58,840 | 7,760 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $52,550, a single filer in Madison takes home about $42,702 a year, or $3,558 a month and $1,642 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $52,550 buys what about $54,015 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$52,550
- Sheboygan$51,870
- Fond du Lac$50,210
- Appleton$50,020
- Green Bay$49,940
- La Crosse$49,250
- Oshkosh$48,920
- Janesville$48,420
- Kenosha$48,420
- Milwaukee$48,420
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 Madison: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Madison?
$25.26 an hour on average, and $24.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Madison?
About $42,702 a year ($3,558 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,550.
Do dental assistants earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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