Dental Assistants Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $46,760 -1.1% vs national
Median hourly $22.48
10th percentile $37,650
90th percentile $56,740
Employed locally 320
National median $47,300

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Dental Assistants
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,650
    25th
    $44,900
    50th (median)
    $46,760
    75th
    $48,830
    90th
    $56,740

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Assistants salary vs area income 78% Median Dental Assistants salary is 22% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $62,700
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $58,380
    Anchorage, AK $56,180
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $56,110
    Greensboro-High Point, NC $51,500
    Wilmington, NC $50,440

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Nursing Assistants $36,050
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides $29,770
    Medical Assistants $39,730
    Phlebotomists $35,530
    Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers $35,580
    Physical Therapist Assistants $62,770

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Assistants make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Assistants in Hickory, NC is $22.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.70 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Dental Assistants salaries?

    The median Dental Assistants salary in Hickory, NC is 1.1% below 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Dental Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $37,650 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,900.