Dental Assistants pay range in Milwaukee
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,430 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Milwaukee earn between $45,200 and $50,060.
- $40K10th
- $45K25th
- $47KMedian
- $50K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,420 | $4,035 | $23.28 |
| Median | $47,140 | $3,928 | $22.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,200 | $3,767 | $21.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,060 | $4,172 | $24.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Milwaukee vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Milwaukee earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($49,150) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $48,420 | $47,140 | $39,700 | $58,430 | 2,400 |
| 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 Milwaukee
On the average salary of $48,420, a single filer in Milwaukee takes home about $39,587 a year, or $3,299 a month and $1,523 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Milwaukee a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Milwaukee area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.9), so the average $48,420 buys what about $49,950 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Milwaukee ($51,160). A typical home costs $390,238, or 8.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Wisconsin cities
Milwaukee ranks 10th of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Madison pays the most ($52,550).
- 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 Milwaukee: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Milwaukee?
$23.28 an hour on average, and $22.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Milwaukee?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Milwaukee?
About $39,587 a year ($3,299 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,420.
Do dental assistants earn more in Milwaukee than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI (33340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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