Dental Assistants Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $47,570 +0.6% vs national
Median hourly $22.87
10th percentile $30,430
90th percentile $59,490
Employed locally 12,310
National median $47,300

Compare Dental Assistants salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Dental Assistants
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,430
    25th
    $38,650
    50th (median)
    $47,570
    75th
    $57,190
    90th
    $59,490

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Assistants salary vs area income 54% Median Dental Assistants salary is 46% 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
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $59,270
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $58,380
    Wilmington, NC $50,440
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $50,200
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $50,110
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $50,050

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides $36,340
    Nursing Assistants $46,050
    Medical Assistants $46,740
    Phlebotomists $48,000
    Massage Therapists $61,590
    Physical Therapist Assistants $67,670

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Assistants make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Assistants in Chicago, IL-IN is $22.87, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.40 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Dental Assistants salaries?

    The median Dental Assistants salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 0.6% 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 Chicago?

    Entry-level Dental Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $30,430 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,650.