Dental Assistants Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $46,800 -1.1% vs national
Median hourly $22.50
10th percentile $38,320
90th percentile $56,570
Employed locally 190
National median $47,300

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Dental Assistants
in
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,320
    25th
    $45,670
    50th (median)
    $46,800
    75th
    $53,930
    90th
    $56,570

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Assistants salary vs area income 68% Median Dental Assistants salary is 32% 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 Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Nursing Assistants$38,090
    Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,630
    Medical Assistants$44,830
    Phlebotomists$36,950
    Physical Therapist Assistants$60,630
    Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$29,840

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Assistants make per hour in Waterloo?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Assistants in Waterloo, IA is $22.50, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.54 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo above or below average for Dental Assistants salaries?

    The median Dental Assistants salary in Waterloo, IA 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 Waterloo?

    Entry-level Dental Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $38,320 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,670.