Dental Assistants pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,610 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Hickory earn between $44,550 and $54,240.
- $38K10th
- $45K25th
- $49KMedian
- $54K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,370 | $4,031 | $23.25 |
| Median | $48,720 | $4,060 | $23.42 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,550 | $3,712 | $21.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $54,240 | $4,520 | $26.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($51,510) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $48,370 | $48,720 | $37,830 | $57,610 | 320 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $48,370, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $39,624 a year, or $3,302 a month and $1,524 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $48,370 buys what about $54,664 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 10th 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 Hickory: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Hickory?
$23.25 an hour on average, and $23.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Hickory?
About $39,624 a year ($3,302 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,370.
Do dental assistants earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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