Dental Assistants pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,920 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Durham earn between $49,390 and $59,180.
- $40K10th
- $49K25th
- $52KMedian
- $59K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,360 | $4,447 | $25.65 |
| Median | $51,670 | $4,306 | $24.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,390 | $4,116 | $23.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,180 | $4,932 | $28.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Durham earn 4% more than the North Carolina average ($51,510) and 6% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $53,360 | $51,670 | $39,530 | $60,920 | 640 |
| North Carolina | $51,510 | $50,380 | $38,240 | $60,200 | 11,450 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $53,360, a single filer in Durham takes home about $43,434 a year, or $3,620 a month and $1,671 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 (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $53,360 buys what about $54,688 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 14 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($55,950).
- Raleigh$55,950
- Asheville$53,650
- Durham$53,360
- Charlotte$51,800
- Winston-Salem$51,570
- Wilmington$51,110
- Burlington$50,440
- Greensboro$49,870
- Fayetteville$49,060
- Hickory$48,370
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 Durham: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Durham?
$25.65 an hour on average, and $24.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Durham?
About $43,434 a year ($3,620 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,360.
Do dental assistants earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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