Dental Assistants Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $47,530 +0.5% vs national
Median hourly $22.85
10th percentile $38,830
90th percentile $58,320
Employed locally 130
National median $47,300

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Dental Assistants
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Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,830
    25th
    $46,630
    50th (median)
    $47,530
    75th
    $51,160
    90th
    $58,320

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Assistants salary vs area income 67% Median Dental Assistants salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Dental Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $65,360
    Minnesota $64,630
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $64,600
    Rochester, MN $62,990
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $62,700
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $62,620

    Nearby metros — Dental Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $60,080
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $57,590
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $57,340
    District of Columbia $56,500
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $50,200
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $49,570

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides $39,220
    Nursing Assistants $39,110
    Medical Assistants $44,820
    Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers $34,580
    Phlebotomists $36,850
    Physical Therapist Assistants $57,160

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Assistants make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Assistants in Ames, IA is $22.85, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.98 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Dental Assistants salaries?

    The median Dental Assistants salary in Ames, IA is 0.5% above the national median of $47,300. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Dental Assistants in Ames?

    Entry-level Dental Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $38,830 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,630.