Salaries for Dental Assistants in Texas
Texas is a big state with a huge population and personality. It’s famous for barbecue, cattle ranches and oil. The population continues to grow and with it a need for qualified medical and dental professionals. Dental assistants play a key role in helping dentists keep patients safe and healthy.
The ongoing upward trend in the Texas population helps to explain why demand is so high for dental assistants. The job growth rate is an astounding 22 percent, far outpacing average job growth and growth in most other states.
This is especially true in the state’s urban areas. In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, for example, there are nearly 6,000 open positions for dental assistants. The Houston area isn’t far behind, with over 5,000 open positions.
Those holding a qualification enjoy better job prospects. Earning a certification from an approved program can help graduates land their dream job much faster. Texas offers many types of training for dental assistants, including both on-site and online programs. The length of the programs can vary by institution or school but could take up to one year to complete.
There are also several licensure requirements that candidates must meet before beginning their career in Texas. These include passing a state-administered exam and completing a criminal background check. Although the process may seem daunting, it’s important to remember that there is high demand for dental assistants in Texas.
Those who are willing to put in the hard work to become a dental assistant can be sure of finding good employment prospects and a stable career in Texas.
Dental assistants in Texas may find themselves working in a variety of different settings. They could be employed in a private dental practice, a hospital, or a clinic. Some dental assistants may even work in public health settings or for research organizations.
The salaries, unfortunately, do not match the major growth in demand for Texas dental assistants. They earn nearly $3,000 less on average than dental assistants across all states. However, there are opportunities to earn more, even over $50,000 depending on location and employer.
| 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 |
| Texas | 2016 | 28,420 | 2026 | 34,670 | 6,250 | 22.0% | 4,040 |
| 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 |
| Texas | 31,550 | $18.57 | $38,630 | $26,710 | $32,020 | $38,130 | $45,680 | $51,280 |
The Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas, the state’s largest cities, have the highest numbers of employed dental assistants. Average salaries vary a lot by metro area, with dental assistants earning the most in Odessa and the least in San Angelo. The difference in average annual salaries between these two cities is nearly $18,000.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 200 | $16.99 | $35,350 | $25,100 | $28,780 | $35,200 | $40,700 | $48,680 |
| Amarillo, TX | 270 | $15.78 | $32,830 | $22,370 | $25,790 | $31,260 | $39,390 | $46,880 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 2670 | $20.30 | $42,230 | $28,700 | $34,960 | $41,880 | $48,960 | $55,500 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 290 | $17.08 | $35,520 | $24,880 | $29,200 | $34,760 | $40,620 | $48,880 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 320 | $16.60 | $34,530 | $25,000 | $27,760 | $32,660 | $41,000 | $48,120 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 210 | $17.11 | $35,580 | $25,000 | $28,530 | $34,360 | $42,510 | $49,460 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 420 | $17.25 | $35,880 | $25,710 | $28,340 | $35,410 | $43,320 | $49,590 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 10310 | $20.16 | $41,930 | $31,270 | $35,720 | $42,020 | $48,410 | $54,200 |
| El Paso, TX | 870 | $16.31 | $33,920 | $22,030 | $26,000 | $34,730 | $40,580 | $45,900 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 7580 | $17.54 | $36,490 | $26,110 | $30,530 | $35,950 | $42,930 | $49,360 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 470 | $18.21 | $37,880 | $27,650 | $32,970 | $38,230 | $44,090 | $48,400 |
| Laredo, TX | 180 | $16.81 | $34,960 | $20,550 | $26,270 | $35,130 | $43,280 | $49,850 |
| Longview, TX | 180 | $16.16 | $33,610 | $24,110 | $28,310 | $32,950 | $38,240 | $43,710 |
| Lubbock, TX | 360 | $17.01 | $35,380 | $26,710 | $28,990 | $33,590 | $40,430 | $48,170 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 710 | $16.05 | $33,390 | $21,700 | $25,030 | $31,340 | $41,240 | $48,460 |
| Midland, TX | 180 | $17.96 | $37,360 | $27,270 | $30,380 | $36,600 | $44,050 | $50,070 |
| Odessa, TX | 190 | $24.04 | $50,000 | $29,900 | $34,380 | $39,860 | $63,480 | $82,060 |
| San Angelo, TX | 100 | $15.61 | $32,480 | $25,740 | $27,730 | $30,950 | $36,800 | $42,980 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 3350 | $18.09 | $37,630 | $27,210 | $31,530 | $36,700 | $43,430 | $51,110 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 140 | $17.99 | $37,420 | $28,050 | $31,940 | $36,580 | $42,690 | $49,400 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 160 | $17.17 | $35,710 | $26,880 | $32,040 | $35,820 | $39,510 | $45,590 |
| Tyler, TX | 380 | $17.82 | $37,060 | $26,910 | $31,470 | $37,220 | $43,020 | $48,790 |
| Victoria, TX | 70 | $17.53 | $36,470 | $27,180 | $31,800 | $37,070 | $41,220 | $46,580 |
| Waco, TX | 180 | $17.27 | $35,920 | $26,600 | $29,130 | $34,910 | $43,190 | $48,320 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 110 | $21.31 | $44,330 | $30,990 | $36,890 | $44,390 | $50,900 | $60,030 |
Dental assistants in Texas can earn significantly more than individuals in similar healthcare assisting careers, including nursing assistants, medical assistants and pharmacy technicians. They earn less than physical therapist assistants in the state.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 38550 | $17.13 | $35,620 | $25,480 | $29,540 | $35,110 | $40,810 | $48,090 |
| Nursing Assistants | 80110 | $13.43 | $27,930 | $20,740 | $23,090 | $27,020 | $31,630 | $37,660 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 7550 | $33.02 | $68,680 | $39,110 | $54,530 | $66,300 | $81,030 | $104,100 |
| Dental Assistants | 31550 | $18.57 | $38,630 | $26,710 | $32,020 | $38,130 | $45,680 | $51,280 |
| Medical Assistants | 65170 | $15.65 | $32,550 | $23,020 | $27,220 | $31,980 | $37,500 | $42,640 |