Salaries for Dental Assistants in Michigan
Michigan is a populous state of nearly ten million people. And these residents have an ongoing demand for qualified and experienced health and dental professionals. Dentists in the state rely on dental assistants to help their offices run smoothly and keep patients safe.
Demand for dental assistants is very high in Michigan. The growth in the number of jobs available exceeds the national average at nearly 20 percent. There are currently 9,520 dental assistants working in the state, and that number is expected to rise to 11,410 by 2026.
As the population of Michigan continues to grow, so will the demand for dental assistants. Many dentists are retiring, and new dentists are needed to fill their shoes. Dental assistants play a crucial role in dental practices, and they are in high demand.
Becoming a dental assistant in Michigan involves completing a dental assistant program and passing a state-specific exam. Many dental assistants also choose to become certified by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
Employment settings for dental assistants in Michigan include dental offices, clinics, and hospitals. Some dental assistants may also work in research laboratories or for companies that manufacture dental products.
Michigan dental assistants earn just less than the national average for this career. Those who make the most in the state have annual salaries of more than $53,000.
| 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 |
| Michigan | 2016 | 9,520 | 2026 | 11,410 | 1,890 | 19.9% | 1,320 |
| 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 |
| Michigan | 9,610 | $18.92 | $39,340 | $27,830 | $33,020 | $38,540 | $46,340 | $53,050 |
By far, the biggest number of employed dental assistants in Michigan is in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area. The region with the highest salaries is the Muskegon area. The average salary here is more than $10,000 higher than in Saginaw, the metro area with the lowest salaries.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 510 | $21.57 | $44,870 | $31,010 | $38,040 | $45,580 | $51,470 | $58,510 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 100 | $18.84 | $39,180 | $24,820 | $31,840 | $38,370 | $47,040 | $55,190 |
| Bay City, MI | 80 | $19.51 | $40,580 | $34,090 | $36,460 | $40,200 | $45,190 | $49,180 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4340 | $17.82 | $37,050 | $26,240 | $31,090 | $36,970 | $43,180 | $49,990 |
| Flint, MI | 540 | $18.27 | $38,010 | $27,490 | $31,490 | $36,260 | $42,540 | $54,940 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 1000 | $21.44 | $44,600 | $32,510 | $36,740 | $44,150 | $52,650 | $59,690 |
| Jackson, MI | 150 | $19.36 | $40,260 | $27,810 | $32,980 | $39,020 | $49,170 | $55,080 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 340 | $20.59 | $42,830 | $32,790 | $35,240 | $39,350 | $49,960 | $61,040 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 550 | $19.54 | $40,640 | $29,260 | $34,350 | $40,820 | $47,330 | $51,740 |
| Midland, MI | 90 | $20.69 | $43,030 | $34,430 | $39,090 | $43,840 | $48,630 | $52,610 |
| Monroe, MI | 60 | $19.18 | $39,890 | $28,380 | $34,390 | $38,970 | $45,870 | $52,590 |
| Muskegon, MI | 170 | $22.42 | $46,630 | $34,990 | $41,780 | $47,510 | $52,720 | $59,170 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 100 | $17.43 | $36,250 | $26,630 | $30,480 | $36,640 | $42,070 | $47,860 |
| Saginaw, MI | 190 | $16.94 | $35,240 | $28,040 | $30,770 | $34,210 | $38,940 | $46,110 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 270 | $20.47 | $42,590 | $33,350 | $35,730 | $39,670 | $49,470 | $59,600 |
There is demand for other types of healthcare assistant professionals in Michigan. Dental assistants earn more than most of these, including medical assistants, nursing assistants and pharmacy technicians. Physical therapist assistants have the highest average salaries in this group.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 15040 | $16.27 | $33,850 | $22,750 | $26,860 | $32,690 | $39,100 | $47,750 |
| Nursing Assistants | 51270 | $15.01 | $31,220 | $24,620 | $27,360 | $30,770 | $35,530 | $39,190 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 3540 | $26.07 | $54,220 | $37,430 | $45,310 | $53,950 | $61,530 | $67,810 |
| Dental Assistants | 9610 | $18.92 | $39,340 | $27,830 | $33,020 | $38,540 | $46,340 | $53,050 |
| Medical Assistants | 24580 | $16.23 | $33,760 | $26,420 | $29,250 | $33,540 | $38,030 | $41,950 |