Dental Assistant Salaries in Louisiana
Louisiana is a mid-sized state with a mid-sized population. In areas across the state, residents rely on trained medical professionals to safeguard their health. Those professionals include both dentists and the assistants who support dental practices.
The number of dental assistants working in Louisiana is increasing over time. From the mid-2010s to the mid-2020s, a total of roughly 240 new assistant positions will be created. In any given year, the state’s dental practices hire about 430 assistants to fill existing spots or new openings.
Working as a dental assistant in Louisiana offers many opportunities to earn a good wage while helping people maintain their oral health. In addition to a competitive salary, most assistants in the state also receive benefits such as paid time off, health insurance, and retirement plans.
Those interested in becoming a dental assistant can find programs at community colleges and technical schools across Louisiana. Most of these programs take about two years to complete and include coursework in anatomy, physiology, dental materials, and radiology. After completing a training program, graduates must pass a state-administered examination to earn their license.
The average dental assistant in Louisiana makes a little over $33,000 annually. This is about $9,000 below the average salary in all 50 states combined. Top-tier assistants working in Louisiana make salaries of $45,000-plus.
| 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 |
| Louisiana | 2016 | 3,670 | 2026 | 3,910 | 240 | 6.5% | 430 |
| 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 |
| Louisiana | 5,070 | $16.01 | $33,300 | $22,160 | $27,250 | $32,990 | $38,900 | $45,360 |
Typical earnings for Louisiana dental assistants aren’t the same in all metropolitan areas. Assistants working in the Alexandria area make the highest average income. At the other end of the scale, assistants working in the Houma-Thibodaux area make the lowest average income. The largest area for employment by far is the New Orleans metropolitan area.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, LA | 180 | $17.54 | $36,490 | $22,210 | $27,060 | $38,170 | $45,240 | $49,970 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 980 | $15.53 | $32,310 | $21,290 | $27,630 | $32,190 | $37,470 | $42,160 |
| Hammond, LA | 70 | $14.81 | $30,810 | $23,300 | $27,110 | $31,480 | $35,410 | $38,420 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 190 | $14.73 | $30,630 | $19,120 | $24,190 | $31,700 | $36,670 | $40,010 |
| Lafayette, LA | 540 | $16.74 | $34,820 | $24,620 | $31,300 | $36,080 | $39,670 | $42,320 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 250 | $15.44 | $32,130 | $19,650 | $27,350 | $33,170 | $38,040 | $41,710 |
| Monroe, LA | 350 | $15.15 | $31,510 | $23,100 | $26,440 | $30,770 | $36,260 | $41,600 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1800 | $16.53 | $34,370 | $22,300 | $27,070 | $33,540 | $40,250 | $48,770 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 380 | $15.67 | $32,600 | $20,060 | $28,130 | $32,890 | $38,590 | $42,140 |
Louisiana dental assistants are better-paid than two other types of medical support personnel: nursing assistants and medical assistants. However, on average, they make less money than Louisiana physical therapy assistants and pharmacy assistants.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 6150 | $16.38 | $34,070 | $25,130 | $28,180 | $33,110 | $38,430 | $45,880 |
| Nursing Assistants | 21500 | $11.22 | $23,340 | $17,610 | $19,950 | $22,670 | $25,610 | $30,280 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1490 | $26.73 | $55,600 | $24,390 | $35,320 | $54,870 | $68,950 | $85,040 |
| Dental Assistants | 5070 | $16.01 | $33,300 | $22,160 | $27,250 | $32,990 | $38,900 | $45,360 |
| Medical Assistants | 8570 | $14.45 | $30,070 | $21,440 | $25,450 | $29,530 | $34,600 | $39,430 |