Dental Assistants pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,920 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Nashville earn between $45,040 and $60,510.
- $39K10th
- $45K25th
- $49KMedian
- $61K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,320 | $4,360 | $25.15 |
| Median | $48,540 | $4,045 | $23.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,040 | $3,753 | $21.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,510 | $5,042 | $29.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Nashville earn 5% more than the Tennessee average ($49,670) and 4% more 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $52,320 | $48,540 | $38,820 | $68,920 | 2,730 |
| Tennessee | $49,670 | $46,720 | $37,810 | $61,260 | 7,420 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $52,320, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $44,219 a year, or $3,685 a month and $1,701 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $52,320 buys what about $54,309 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Nashville$52,320
- Knoxville$49,500
- Memphis$49,340
- Jackson$48,450
- Chattanooga$48,020
- Clarksville$46,970
- Morristown$46,900
- Johnson City$46,210
- Kingsport$46,110
- Cleveland$45,670
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 Nashville: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Nashville?
$25.16 an hour on average, and $23.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Nashville?
About $44,219 a year ($3,685 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,320. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do dental assistants earn more in Nashville 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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