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Dental Assistant Salaries in Arkansas

Arkansas is one of America’s smaller states by population. However, like residents of all states, Arkansas residents need access to quality dental services. Dental assistants play an important role in providing this necessary care.

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By 2026, Arkansas will have roughly 540 more dental assistants than it had in 2016. This represents an expansion of more than 20 percent. In any given year, the state has about 370 openings for existing assistant jobs.

Average dental assistant salaries in Arkansas hover around $34,000-plus a year. This is far from the lowest yearly pay in America. However, it falls almost $7,000 below the norm for the country.

AreaNameBase YearEmployedProjection YearProjected EmploymentChange% ChangeProjected Average Annual Job Openings
United States2018346,0002026384,70038,70019.5%44,800
Arkansas20162,67020263,21054020.2%370
StateTotal EmployedHourly MeanHourly MeanAnnual Mean10th Percentile25th PercentileAnnual Median75th Percentile
U.S.351,470$19.79$41,170$27,980$33,440$40,080$48,550$56,930
Arkansas2,780$17.02$35,400$25,930$30,050$35,500$40,960$47,210

Income for dental assistants is fairly consistent throughout Arkansas. The Memphis metropolitan area, which extends into Arkansas, provides the highest average income at just over $37,000. The lowest average earnings are found in the Hot Springs area. Assistants there make about $35,000 a year.

AreaTotal EmployedHourly MeanAnnual Mean10th Percentile25th PercentileAnnual Median75th Percentile90th Percentile
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO570$17.51$36,410$27,720$31,320$36,860$41,090$46,430
Fort Smith, AR-OK280$17.10$35,560$26,950$31,140$35,500$39,860$46,240
Hot Springs, AR190$16.89$35,140$26,440$30,690$35,480$40,010$45,280
Jonesboro, AR230$17.18$35,740$28,350$32,360$35,950$39,400$44,300
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR630$17.40$36,180$26,590$29,680$35,200$44,160$48,980
Memphis, TN-MS-AR1340$17.84$37,110$23,500$28,020$34,760$45,420$57,040
Pine Bluff, AR70$17.46$36,310$26,540$30,030$36,300$42,820$48,410
Texarkana, TX-AR160$17.17$35,710$26,880$32,040$35,820$39,510$45,590

In Arkansas, dental assistants rank second only to physical therapist assistants when it comes to earnings for healthcare support personnel. Nursing assistants and pharmacy assistants make considerably less than dental assistants. In contrast, medical assistants earn just slightly less.

OccupationTotal EmployedHourly MeanAnnual Mean10th Percentile25th PercentileAnnual Median75th Percentile90th Percentile
Pharmacy Technicians4880$14.87$30,930$22,410$25,790$29,610$35,620$40,950
Nursing Assistants17390$12.48$25,950$20,510$22,410$25,630$29,200$31,630
Physical Therapist Assistants1370$28.45$59,180$40,790$49,490$58,940$70,660$80,270
Dental Assistants2780$17.02$35,400$25,930$30,050$35,500$40,960$47,210
Medical Assistants3850$14.88$30,950$22,350$26,100$30,020$35,770$40,510

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