Dental Assistant Salaries in Connecticut
Despite its relatively small size, Connecticut is America’s 29th most populous state. Throughout the state, residents rely on dentists to help keep their teeth and gums healthy. Whether or not they know it, they also rely on the skills of trained dental assistants.
Connecticut is due to add about 670 new dental assistants over the decade between 2106 and 2026. That’s equivalent to a 17 percent increase for the state as a whole. About 530 job openings for new and existing positions occur each year.
Dental assistants working in the state can expect to make about $3,000 more per year than the national average of $41,170. The highest assistant salaries found within Connecticut fall in the neighborhood of $57,000 to $58,000 a year.
| 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 |
| Connecticut | 2016 | 3,930 | 2026 | 4,600 | 670 | 17.0% | 530 |
| 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 |
| Connecticut | 4,020 | $21.50 | $44,710 | $33,790 | $38,270 | $44,840 | $50,620 | $57,500 |
Connecticut’s top metro region for dental assistant salaries is Worcester, which also extends into Massachusetts. Assistants working in the New Haven area make the lowest salaries. Still, in every metro region, salaries remain above the national norm.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 1060 | $21.09 | $43,860 | $31,830 | $36,460 | $44,460 | $51,110 | $58,270 |
| Danbury, CT | 330 | $22.17 | $46,100 | $35,850 | $40,410 | $45,280 | $50,380 | $58,420 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1330 | $21.65 | $45,040 | $34,350 | $38,320 | $44,230 | $50,150 | $58,100 |
| New Haven, CT | 680 | $20.62 | $42,900 | $32,970 | $37,940 | $44,540 | $49,280 | $52,210 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 260 | $22.94 | $47,720 | $36,010 | $42,150 | $48,160 | $53,620 | $60,510 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 1030 | $20.76 | $43,190 | $33,230 | $37,710 | $43,690 | $49,240 | $53,870 |
| Waterbury, CT | 200 | $22.72 | $47,270 | $35,630 | $40,280 | $46,820 | $55,070 | $61,630 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 790 | $23.60 | $49,100 | $36,600 | $42,660 | $49,690 | $55,430 | $61,120 |
As is true in most other states, Connecticut dental assistants don’t earn as much as physical therapist assistants. However, they earn more than nursing assistants, medical assistants and pharmacy assistants.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 3870 | $17.02 | $35,400 | $25,440 | $28,670 | $34,420 | $40,070 | $48,720 |
| Nursing Assistants | 21600 | $16.52 | $34,360 | $26,450 | $29,280 | $33,860 | $38,610 | $44,030 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 630 | $31.50 | $65,510 | $40,490 | $55,840 | $67,100 | $78,030 | $86,310 |
| Dental Assistants | 4020 | $21.50 | $44,710 | $33,790 | $38,270 | $44,840 | $50,620 | $57,500 |
| Medical Assistants | 8140 | $19.44 | $40,440 | $31,110 | $34,400 | $38,640 | $45,550 | $52,760 |