Dental Assistants pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,200 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Lexington earn between $46,760 and $58,430.
- $30K10th
- $47K25th
- $49KMedian
- $58K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,580 | $4,215 | $24.32 |
| Median | $48,690 | $4,058 | $23.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,760 | $3,897 | $22.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,430 | $4,869 | $28.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Lexington earn 4% more than the Kentucky average ($48,440) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $50,580 | $48,690 | $30,400 | $62,200 | 750 |
| Kentucky | $48,440 | $47,730 | $35,600 | $62,050 | 4,530 |
| 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 Lexington
On the average salary of $50,580, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $39,777 a year, or $3,315 a month and $1,530 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $50,580 buys what about $54,452 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($52,000).
- Louisville$52,000
- Elizabethtown$50,950
- Lexington$50,580
- Bowling Green$48,950
- Paducah$47,700
- Owensboro$47,520
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Dental Assistants salary in Lexington: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Lexington?
$24.32 an hour on average, and $23.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Lexington?
About $39,777 a year ($3,315 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,580. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do dental assistants earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.