Dental Assistants pay range in Owensboro
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,890 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Owensboro earn between $42,550 and $58,030.
- $35K10th
- $43K25th
- $45KMedian
- $58K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,520 | $3,960 | $22.85 |
| Median | $45,330 | $3,778 | $21.79 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,550 | $3,546 | $20.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,030 | $4,836 | $27.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Owensboro vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Owensboro earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($48,440) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owensboro | $47,520 | $45,330 | $35,310 | $59,890 | 160 |
| 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 Owensboro
On the average salary of $47,520, a single filer in Owensboro takes home about $37,971 a year, or $3,164 a month and $1,460 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
Is Owensboro a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Owensboro area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.6), so the average $47,520 buys what about $53,628 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Owensboro ($44,960). A typical home costs $213,657, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Kentucky cities
Owensboro ranks 6th 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
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Dental Assistants salary in Owensboro: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Owensboro?
$22.85 an hour on average, and $21.79 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Owensboro?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Owensboro?
About $37,971 a year ($3,164 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,520. Includes Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
Do dental assistants earn more in Owensboro 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 Owensboro, KY (36980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 Owensboro's local income tax (1.78%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.31, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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