Dental Assistants pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,660 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Portland earn between $54,170 and $61,520.
- $49K10th
- $54K25th
- $61KMedian
- $62K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,380 | $4,948 | $28.55 |
| Median | $61,240 | $5,103 | $29.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,170 | $4,514 | $26.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,520 | $5,127 | $29.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Portland earn 4% more than the Maine average ($57,140) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $59,380 | $61,240 | $49,160 | $62,660 | 830 |
| Maine | $57,140 | $60,070 | $47,290 | $62,660 | 1,550 |
| 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 Portland
On the average salary of $59,380, a single filer in Portland takes home about $47,561 a year, or $3,963 a month and $1,829 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $59,380 buys what about $58,297 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Maine metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Portland: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Portland?
$28.55 an hour on average, and $29.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Portland?
About $47,561 a year ($3,963 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,380. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do dental assistants earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more 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 Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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