Dental Assistant Salaries in North Carolina
North Carolina has experienced significant population growth and is now the 10th most populous state. Its metropolitan areas offer extensive and sophisticated medical and dental care services to residents and visitors alike, cementing the state’s reputation as a healthcare mecca. Aspiring dental assistants in North Carolina can find ample opportunities for employment in North Carolina, usually at wages that are above the industry average.
The need for dental assistants in the United States is burgeoning, and North Carolina is helping drive that trend. Between 2016 and 2026, dental assistant jobs in North Carolina are projected to increase by 23.6 percent, which is about 20 percent higher than for the United States as a whole.
This expected increase in dental assistant jobs is likely due to several factors, such as an aging population and an emphasis on preventive care.
One of the most important duties of a dental assistant is to help maintain patients’ oral hygiene. In addition to providing instruction on brushing and flossing, dental assistants may also take X-rays and perform other basic diagnostic procedures. They also often work alongside dentists during more complex procedures, such as teeth cleanings, fillings, and extractions.
Dental assistants must be detail-oriented and able to work quickly and effectively in a fast-paced environment. They must also be able to put patients at ease, as many people experience anxiety when visiting the dentist. Strong communication skills are essential, as dental assistants often act as a liaison between patients and dentists.
Salaries for dental assistants in North Carolina are marginally higher than the national average. Increasing demand for well-trained professionals in the state should continue to put upward pressure on wages, in dental care and in healthcare in general.
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 |
North Carolina | 2016 | 8,970 | 2026 | 11,090 | 2,120 | 23.6% | 1,300 |
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 |
North Carolina | 9,510 | $20.57 | $42,790 | $31,590 | $36,360 | $42,750 | $49,460 | $56,180 |
Dental assistants employed in North Carolina’s Triangle region (the Raleigh–Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan area) earn the top salaries in the state. Other locations where dental assistants are paid a few thousand dollars more than the state’s annual average include Charlotte, New Bern, Burlington, and the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area on the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Conversely, dental assistants who work in Wilmington or in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan area in western North Carolina can expect to earn 10-20 percent less than the state average.
Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asheville, NC | 530 | $20.35 | $42,330 | $34,060 | $38,090 | $42,930 | $48,000 | $51,230 |
Burlington, NC | 120 | $21.05 | $43,790 | $32,280 | $35,360 | $43,440 | $52,580 | $58,390 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2600 | $21.30 | $44,300 | $31,340 | $37,480 | $44,760 | $51,010 | $59,160 |
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 610 | $23.10 | $48,050 | $36,090 | $41,790 | $47,870 | $55,470 | $61,870 |
Fayetteville, NC | 460 | $19.03 | $39,570 | $31,360 | $34,470 | $39,220 | $45,910 | $50,080 |
Goldsboro, NC | 100 | $19.19 | $39,920 | $33,230 | $35,610 | $38,920 | $44,330 | $50,300 |
Greensboro-High Point, NC | 790 | $20.54 | $42,730 | $32,660 | $36,330 | $41,470 | $49,530 | $57,350 |
Greenville, NC | 150 | $20.59 | $42,830 | $31,550 | $36,700 | $42,190 | $49,320 | $55,680 |
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 260 | $16.90 | $35,160 | $27,580 | $31,270 | $35,050 | $38,930 | $44,960 |
Jacksonville, NC | 130 | $19.99 | $41,570 | $32,460 | $36,870 | $41,510 | $46,950 | $51,290 |
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 390 | $20.82 | $43,300 | $30,960 | $35,590 | $42,080 | $50,470 | $59,710 |
New Bern, NC | 140 | $21.65 | $45,040 | $35,250 | $40,020 | $44,730 | $50,060 | $58,360 |
Raleigh, NC | 1440 | $21.25 | $44,200 | $33,170 | $38,960 | $45,170 | $50,640 | $56,520 |
Rocky Mount, NC | 70 | $19.90 | $41,390 | $33,990 | $37,270 | $42,040 | $46,980 | $50,360 |
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 1870 | $19.04 | $39,600 | $25,920 | $33,390 | $38,920 | $46,800 | $52,920 |
Wilmington, NC | 350 | $18.07 | $37,580 | $27,760 | $32,780 | $37,970 | $42,890 | $48,230 |
Winston-Salem, NC | 550 | $20.28 | $42,180 | $33,080 | $36,180 | $41,050 | $48,220 | $54,500 |
In North Carolina, wages for dental assistants are notably higher than for pharmacy technicians, nursing assistants or medical assistants. But salaries for dental assistants are significantly lower than for physical therapists, who are generously compensated in the state.
Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pharmacy Technicians | 13560 | $15.67 | $32,600 | $22,680 | $26,820 | $32,090 | $37,940 | $44,560 |
Nursing Assistants | 56780 | $12.76 | $26,540 | $19,430 | $22,310 | $26,360 | $30,360 | $34,690 |
Physical Therapist Assistants | 2820 | $29.57 | $61,500 | $45,630 | $53,450 | $61,420 | $71,150 | $79,290 |
Dental Assistants | 9510 | $20.57 | $42,790 | $31,590 | $36,360 | $42,750 | $49,460 | $56,180 |
Medical Assistants | 19640 | $16.05 | $33,380 | $25,520 | $28,800 | $33,500 | $38,040 | $41,830 |