Dental Assistant salary in Minnesota
The verified BLS median dental assistant in Minnesota earns $65,270 ($31.38/hr). Minnesota pays roughly 36% above the national median of $48,070.
Dental Assistant pay in Minnesota: the analysis
At a verified median of $65,270, dental assistants in Minnesota earn substantially above the U.S. median of $48,070 — a gap of about 36%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental assistant pay, Minnesota ranks 1st.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental assistants in this state earn around $46,960, while the top tenth earn $76,110 or more — a spread of about $29,150. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 5,980 dental assistants employed in Minnesota — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within Minnesota, a dental assistant earns about 3.4× less than a general dentist and about 1.6× less than a dental hygienist ($219,200, $103,970 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, dental assistant pay is highest in Minneapolis at about $72,370 and lowest in Duluth at about $59,390. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Assistant pay distribution — Minnesota (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $46,960 | $22.58/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $59,940 | $28.82/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $65,270 | $31.38/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $74,410 | $35.77/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $76,110 | $36.59/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $64,740 | $31.13/hr |
Dental Assistant pay by metro in Minnesota
All 5 Minnesota metros where BLS publishes a dental assistant wage — highest first. State median: $65,270.
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the Minnesota median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental assistant wage are not listed.
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How much does a dental assistant make in Minnesota?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental assistant in Minnesota earns about $65,270 ($31.38/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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