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.
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.
| AreaName | Base Year | Employed | Projection Year | Projected Employment | Change | % Change | Projected Average Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2018 | 346,000 | 2026 | 384,700 | 38,700 | 19.5% | 44,800 |
| Arkansas | 2016 | 2,670 | 2026 | 3,210 | 540 | 20.2% | 370 |
| State | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 351,470 | $19.79 | $41,170 | $27,980 | $33,440 | $40,080 | $48,550 | $56,930 |
| Arkansas | 2,780 | $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.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 570 | $17.51 | $36,410 | $27,720 | $31,320 | $36,860 | $41,090 | $46,430 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 280 | $17.10 | $35,560 | $26,950 | $31,140 | $35,500 | $39,860 | $46,240 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 190 | $16.89 | $35,140 | $26,440 | $30,690 | $35,480 | $40,010 | $45,280 |
| Jonesboro, AR | 230 | $17.18 | $35,740 | $28,350 | $32,360 | $35,950 | $39,400 | $44,300 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 630 | $17.40 | $36,180 | $26,590 | $29,680 | $35,200 | $44,160 | $48,980 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1340 | $17.84 | $37,110 | $23,500 | $28,020 | $34,760 | $45,420 | $57,040 |
| Pine Bluff, AR | 70 | $17.46 | $36,310 | $26,540 | $30,030 | $36,300 | $42,820 | $48,410 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 160 | $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.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 4880 | $14.87 | $30,930 | $22,410 | $25,790 | $29,610 | $35,620 | $40,950 |
| Nursing Assistants | 17390 | $12.48 | $25,950 | $20,510 | $22,410 | $25,630 | $29,200 | $31,630 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1370 | $28.45 | $59,180 | $40,790 | $49,490 | $58,940 | $70,660 | $80,270 |
| Dental Assistants | 2780 | $17.02 | $35,400 | $25,930 | $30,050 | $35,500 | $40,960 | $47,210 |
| Medical Assistants | 3850 | $14.88 | $30,950 | $22,350 | $26,100 | $30,020 | $35,770 | $40,510 |