Dental Assistants pay range in Traverse City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,110 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,620 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Traverse City earn between $45,830 and $56,630.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $47KMedian
- $57K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,130 | $4,094 | $23.62 |
| Median | $46,910 | $3,909 | $22.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,830 | $3,819 | $22.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,630 | $4,719 | $27.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Traverse City vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Traverse City earn about the same as the Michigan average ($49,650) and about the same as the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City | $49,130 | $46,910 | $37,110 | $57,620 | 290 |
| Michigan | $49,650 | $48,820 | $37,110 | $58,900 | 11,990 |
| 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 Traverse City
On the average salary of $49,130, a single filer in Traverse City takes home about $39,814 a year, or $3,318 a month and $1,531 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Traverse City a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Traverse City area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.4), so the average $49,130 buys what about $52,617 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Traverse City ($47,470). A typical home costs $421,806, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Michigan cities
Traverse City ranks 7th of 15 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($55,120).
- Grand Rapids$55,120
- Ann Arbor$51,410
- Lansing$50,480
- Battle Creek$49,520
- Niles$49,500
- Detroit$49,390
- Traverse City$49,130
- Midland$48,950
- Saginaw$48,740
- Jackson$48,610
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 Traverse City: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Traverse City?
$23.62 an hour on average, and $22.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Traverse City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,110 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Traverse City?
About $39,814 a year ($3,318 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,130.
Do dental assistants earn more in Traverse City 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 Traverse City, MI (45900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.72, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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