Tennessee Median
$46,720
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.46
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $48,070
State Rank
#34 of 50
7,420 employed here
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Tennessee?
Dental Assistants in Tennessee take home a median of $46,720 annually — roughly $22.46 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $48,070.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $37,810 while the top 10% make $61,260 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,440 and $59,270 a year.
Dental Assistant salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,810 | $18.18 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $44,440 | $21.37 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,720 | $22.46 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $59,270 | $28.50 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,260 | $29.45 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 34th out of 50 states and territories for Dental Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Dental Assistant salary in other states
Minnesota $65,270District of Columbia $60,580Maine $60,070New Hampshire $59,530Oregon $59,490Washington $58,090Massachusetts $57,980North Dakota $57,770Alaska $57,710Connecticut $56,850Vermont $52,760North Carolina $50,380Rhode Island $50,150California $50,110New Jersey $49,390Arizona $49,000Michigan $48,820Indiana $48,670Maryland $48,620Illinois $48,610Iowa $48,430Colorado $48,340New York $48,110Ohio $47,970Pennsylvania $47,930South Dakota $47,900Kentucky $47,730Florida $47,620Delaware $47,600Wisconsin $47,520South Carolina $47,320Nevada $47,110Georgia $46,840Montana $46,680Virginia $46,670Nebraska $46,660Missouri $45,970Idaho $45,880Oklahoma $45,740Texas $45,430Wyoming $44,990Hawaii $44,720New Mexico $44,400Louisiana $44,090Arkansas $42,830Mississippi $39,160Alabama $39,080West Virginia $37,960Utah $37,760
Working as a Dental Assistant in Tennessee
Nationally, about 388,000 people work as Dental Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare Tennessee pay ($46,720) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Tennessee?
The median Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee is $46,720 per year, or about $22.46 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,810 at the entry level to $61,260 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Dental Assistants about 3% less than the national median of $48,070. Tennessee ranks 34th out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Dental Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $46,720 a year. About 7,420 Dental Assistants are employed in Tennessee. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Dental Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.