Dental Assistants pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,180 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Altoona earn between $35,950 and $47,300.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $45KMedian
- $47K75th
- $58K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,440 | $3,703 | $21.37 |
| Median | $45,310 | $3,776 | $21.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,950 | $2,996 | $17.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $47,300 | $3,942 | $22.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Altoona earn 11% less than the Pennsylvania average ($50,130) and 11% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $44,440 | $45,310 | $35,480 | $58,180 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,130 | $47,930 | $38,040 | $61,430 | 12,080 |
| 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 Altoona
On the average salary of $44,440, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $36,523 a year, or $3,044 a month and $1,405 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $44,440 buys what about $49,650 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 15th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($52,220).
- Philadelphia$52,220
- York$51,230
- Lebanon$51,130
- Pittsburgh$50,700
- Harrisburg$50,210
- Allentown$50,000
- Williamsport$49,880
- Chambersburg$49,700
- Lancaster$49,460
- Altoona$44,440
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 Altoona: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Altoona?
$21.37 an hour on average, and $21.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Altoona?
About $36,523 a year ($3,044 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,440. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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