Dental Assistants pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,070 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Lafayette earn between $35,280 and $46,410.
- $32K10th
- $35K25th
- $45KMedian
- $46K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,260 | $3,772 | $21.76 |
| Median | $44,940 | $3,745 | $21.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,280 | $2,940 | $16.96 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,410 | $3,868 | $22.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Lafayette earn 6% more than the Louisiana average ($42,540) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $45,260 | $44,940 | $32,130 | $79,070 | 620 |
| Louisiana | $42,540 | $44,090 | $31,050 | $49,640 | 4,540 |
| 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 $45,260, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $37,575 a year, or $3,131 a month and $1,445 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $45,260 buys what about $51,898 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 2nd of 10 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Hammond pays the most ($45,990).
- Hammond$45,990
- Lafayette$45,260
- New Orleans$44,760
- Slidell$44,440
- Alexandria$41,800
- Baton Rouge$41,650
- Houma$41,640
- Shreveport$41,510
- Lake Charles$40,560
- Monroe$39,330
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 Lafayette: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Lafayette?
$21.76 an hour on average, and $21.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $37,575 a year ($3,131 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,260.
Do dental assistants earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.