Dental Assistants pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,250 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Philadelphia earn between $47,490 and $57,070.
- $40K10th
- $47K25th
- $50KMedian
- $57K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,220 | $4,352 | $25.11 |
| Median | $49,570 | $4,131 | $23.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,490 | $3,958 | $22.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,070 | $4,756 | $27.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Philadelphia earn 4% more than the Pennsylvania average ($50,130) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $52,220 | $49,570 | $40,040 | $69,250 | 6,510 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $52,220, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $42,536 a year, or $3,545 a month and $1,636 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $42,801 | $3,567 |
| Working in PA | $42,536 | $3,545 |
| Working in MD | $41,870 | $3,489 |
| Working in DE | $41,807 | $3,484 |
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 Philadelphia a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $52,220 buys what about $50,920 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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
- Reading$49,340
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Philadelphia?
$25.11 an hour on average, and $23.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $42,536 a year ($3,545 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,220. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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