Dental Assistants pay range in Amherst
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,850 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Amherst earn between $48,670 and $58,120.
- $39K10th
- $49K25th
- $55KMedian
- $58K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,720 | $4,477 | $25.83 |
| Median | $54,970 | $4,581 | $26.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,670 | $4,056 | $23.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,120 | $4,843 | $27.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Amherst vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Amherst earn 5% less than the Massachusetts average ($56,640) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | $53,720 | $54,970 | $39,490 | $61,850 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $56,640 | $57,980 | $47,270 | $72,790 | 9,680 |
| 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 Amherst
On the average salary of $53,720, a single filer in Amherst takes home about $42,978 a year, or $3,582 a month and $1,653 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Amherst a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Amherst area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.2), so the average $53,720 buys what about $53,590 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Amherst ($57,030). A typical home costs $363,400, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Massachusetts cities
Amherst ranks 4th of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Boston pays the most ($57,520).
- Boston$57,520
- Barnstable$56,510
- Worcester$54,070
- Amherst$53,720
- Pittsfield$52,180
- Springfield$52,070
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 Amherst: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Amherst?
$25.83 an hour on average, and $26.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Amherst?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Amherst?
About $42,978 a year ($3,582 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,720. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Amherst than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA (11200). 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: Census median home value (Zillow does not cover this metro). 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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