Dental Assistants pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,510 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Rochester earn between $59,820 and $72,700.
- $46K10th
- $60K25th
- $63KMedian
- $73K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,860 | $5,155 | $29.74 |
| Median | $63,450 | $5,288 | $30.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,820 | $4,985 | $28.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,700 | $6,058 | $34.95 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Rochester vs. Minnesota and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Rochester earn 4% less than the Minnesota average ($64,740) and 23% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $61,860 | $63,450 | $46,090 | $74,510 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $64,740 | $65,270 | $46,960 | $76,110 | 5,980 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $61,860, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $49,201 a year, or $4,100 a month and $1,892 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.8), so the average $61,860 buys what about $68,112 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($60,620). A typical home costs $343,121, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Minnesota cities
Rochester ranks 2nd of 5 Minnesota metro areas for this job; Minneapolis pays the most ($67,420).
- Minneapolis$67,420
- Rochester$61,860
- St. Cloud$60,540
- Mankato$60,250
- Duluth$57,590
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 Rochester: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Rochester?
$29.74 an hour on average, and $30.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Rochester?
About $49,201 a year ($4,100 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,860. Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% 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 Rochester, MN (40340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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). Minnesota Paid Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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