Dental Assistants Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $48,680 +2.9% vs national
Median hourly $23.41
10th percentile $47,310
90th percentile $59,580
Employed locally 770
National median $47,300

Compare Dental Assistants salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Des Moines, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Dental Assistants
in
Des Moines, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $47,310
    25th
    $48,270
    50th (median)
    $48,680
    75th
    $58,070
    90th
    $59,580

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Assistants salary vs area income 58% Median Dental Assistants salary is 42% 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 Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides $35,480
    Nursing Assistants $39,790
    Medical Assistants $45,700
    Phlebotomists $39,200
    Pharmacy Aides $33,360
    Massage Therapists $73,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Assistants make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Assistants in Des Moines, IA is $23.41, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.84 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Dental Assistants salaries?

    The median Dental Assistants salary in Des Moines, IA is 2.9% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Dental Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $47,310 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,270.