Dental Assistant salary in Rhode Island
The verified BLS median dental assistant in Rhode Island earns $50,150 ($24.11/hr). Rhode Island pays roughly 4% above the national median of $48,070.
Dental Assistant pay in Rhode Island: the analysis
At a verified median of $50,150, dental assistants in Rhode Island earn modestly above the U.S. median of $48,070 — a gap of about 4%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental assistant pay, Rhode Island ranks 13th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental assistants in this state earn around $45,640, while the top tenth earn $60,900 or more — a spread of about $15,260. 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 1,050 dental assistants employed in Rhode Island — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within Rhode Island, a dental assistant earns about 3.2× less than a general dentist and about 1.7× less than a dental hygienist ($161,560, $86,910 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 Providence at about $49,460. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Assistant pay distribution — Rhode Island (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $45,640 | $21.94/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $48,070 | $23.11/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $50,150 | $24.11/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $59,170 | $28.45/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $60,900 | $29.28/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $52,790 | $25.38/hr |
Dental Assistant pay by metro in Rhode Island
The one Rhode Island metro where BLS publishes a dental assistant wage, ranked against the state median of $50,150.
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental assistant in Rhode Island earns about $50,150 ($24.11/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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