Dental Assistant salary in New York
The verified BLS median dental assistant in New York earns $48,110 ($23.13/hr). New York is about the national median ($48,070).
Dental Assistant pay in New York: the analysis
At a verified median of $48,110, dental assistants in New York earn about the U.S. median. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental assistant pay, New York ranks 23rd.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental assistants in this state earn around $36,410, while the top tenth earn $60,490 or more — a spread of about $24,080. 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 19,800 dental assistants employed in New York — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within New York, a dental assistant earns about 3.8× less than a general dentist and about 2.2× less than a dental hygienist ($183,060, $106,130 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 Elmira at about $49,450 and lowest in Watertown at about $43,010. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Assistant pay distribution — New York (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $36,410 | $17.50/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $44,730 | $21.50/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $48,110 | $23.13/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $58,630 | $28.19/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $60,490 | $29.08/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $49,820 | $23.95/hr |
Dental Assistant pay by metro in New York
All 13 New York metros where BLS publishes a dental assistant wage — highest first. State median: $48,110.
- Elmira$49,450+3%
- Kiryas Joel$49,120+2%
- Rochester$48,780+1%
- New York$48,430+1%
- Albany$48,220
- Ithaca$48,170
- Kingston$47,940
- Buffalo$47,610-1%
- Syracuse$47,370-2%
- Glens Falls$47,070-2%
- Utica$46,560-3%
- Binghamton$44,840-7%
- Watertown$43,010-11%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the New York median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental assistant wage are not listed.
Estimate your pay
Open calculatorKnow a real number we don’t?
Submit your compensation anonymously. We review every entry and publish only de-identified aggregates above a sample-size threshold.
Submit your salary →Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in New York?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental assistant in New York earns about $48,110 ($23.13/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
Last updated