Dental Assistants pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,530 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Wilmington earn between $47,120 and $57,690.
- $38K10th
- $47K25th
- $51KMedian
- $58K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,110 | $4,259 | $24.57 |
| Median | $51,110 | $4,259 | $24.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,120 | $3,927 | $22.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,690 | $4,808 | $27.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($51,510) and about the same as the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $51,110 | $51,110 | $37,980 | $59,530 | 600 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $51,110, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $41,716 a year, or $3,476 a month and $1,604 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 Wilmington a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $51,110 buys what about $53,007 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 6th 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 Wilmington: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Wilmington?
$24.57 an hour on average, and $24.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $41,716 a year ($3,476 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,110.
Do dental assistants earn more in Wilmington 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). 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 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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