Dental Assistants pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,620 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Lafayette earn between $38,500 and $53,740.
- $37K10th
- $38K25th
- $49KMedian
- $54K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,930 | $3,994 | $23.04 |
| Median | $48,730 | $4,061 | $23.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,500 | $3,208 | $18.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,740 | $4,478 | $25.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Lafayette vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Lafayette earn 5% less than the Indiana average ($50,480) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $47,930 | $48,730 | $36,550 | $57,620 | 190 |
| Indiana | $50,480 | $48,670 | $36,880 | $60,590 | 6,690 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in Lafayette
On the average salary of $47,930, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $38,683 a year, or $3,224 a month and $1,488 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Is Lafayette a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $47,930 buys what about $51,300 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($48,780). A typical home costs $286,179, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Indiana cities
Lafayette ranks 8th of 12 Indiana metro areas for this job; Elkhart pays the most ($54,820).
- Elkhart$54,820
- Indianapolis$51,810
- Fort Wayne$51,060
- South Bend$49,830
- Bloomington$49,560
- Kokomo$49,150
- Michigan City$48,930
- Lafayette$47,930
- Evansville$47,870
- Columbus$47,740
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in Lafayette: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Lafayette?
$23.05 an hour on average, and $23.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $38,683 a year ($3,224 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,930. Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
Do dental assistants earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9091; area Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN (29200). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Lafayette's local income tax (1.28%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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