Dental Assistant Salaries in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has been experiencing slow but steady growth in its population. By the year 2030, more than 6.3 million people are expected to call Wisconsin home. Most people in Wisconsin live in small to medium-sized cities, which are spread all across the state. Opportunities for employment in dental care and health care can be found in every region of Wisconsin, with more openings available in areas along or near the Wisconsin-Minnesota border.
The demand for dental assistants in Wisconsin is expected to grow by 10 percent between 2016 and 2026. This is about half the projected growth rate for the United States as a whole, where employment opportunities for dental assistants will increase by nearly 20 percent.
The projected growth in Wisconsin is largely due to the concomitant aging of the state’s population, which will increase the demand for preventative and restorative dental care.
The job prospects for dental assistants are best in smaller cities, such as Madison and Milwaukee, but even greater opportunities can be found in large metropolitan areas like Chicago, Illinois. In addition to the state’s expanding population, there is also a growing trend towards preventive care, which will increase the demand for dental assistants who are able to perform more specialized tasks.
Dental assistants employed in Wisconsin can expect to earn annual salaries that are slightly below those earned throughout the United States as a whole. Overall, compensation for dental assistants in Wisconsin is the lowest of any state in the Upper Midwest or Great Lakes Region.
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 |
Wisconsin | 2016 | 5,690 | 2026 | 6,260 | 570 | 10.0% | 700 |
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 |
Wisconsin | 6,280 | $19.14 | $39,800 | $30,200 | $34,100 | $38,870 | $45,930 | $51,380 |
Throughout most of the state, wages for dental assistants in Wisconsin are uniform. However, those who live and work in areas along the Wisconsin-Minnesota border can expect to earn more. Dental assistant salaries are above the state average in the Duluth (MN)-Superior (WI) and LaCrosse-LaCrescent (MN) metropolitan areas. But the highest-paying jobs can be found in the Minneapolis-St.Paul (MN) metropolitan area, which is within easy commuting distance of multiple counties in western Wisconsin.
Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appleton, WI | 290 | $20.55 | $42,740 | $32,130 | $35,750 | $41,330 | $48,050 | $54,830 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 10760 | $19.72 | $41,030 | $29,490 | $34,190 | $41,110 | $48,590 | $53,610 |
Duluth, MN-WI | 280 | $22.76 | $47,340 | $36,130 | $41,600 | $47,560 | $53,300 | $60,000 |
Eau Claire, WI | 200 | $17.99 | $37,420 | $29,570 | $32,860 | $36,840 | $41,140 | $48,250 |
Fond du Lac, WI | 110 | $20.23 | $42,070 | $33,830 | $37,090 | $41,620 | $47,370 | $51,600 |
Green Bay, WI | 380 | $19.46 | $40,470 | $29,500 | $33,670 | $39,500 | $47,300 | $54,280 |
Janesville-Beloit, WI | 150 | $18.67 | $38,830 | $27,870 | $33,770 | $39,870 | $45,850 | $49,760 |
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 170 | $20.72 | $43,100 | $33,100 | $36,040 | $41,730 | $49,490 | $58,350 |
Madison, WI | 710 | $20.53 | $42,700 | $32,840 | $37,260 | $43,260 | $48,470 | $52,270 |
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 1970 | $18.79 | $39,080 | $29,930 | $33,710 | $37,880 | $44,460 | $50,580 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3760 | $26.21 | $54,510 | $43,290 | $47,760 | $53,930 | $60,400 | $64,810 |
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 140 | $18.45 | $38,380 | $21,470 | $33,390 | $39,090 | $46,300 | $51,430 |
Racine, WI | 200 | $18.07 | $37,580 | $28,660 | $32,190 | $37,620 | $42,850 | $48,140 |
Sheboygan, WI | 130 | $18.22 | $37,900 | $22,710 | $27,000 | $37,660 | $46,140 | $53,340 |
Wausau, WI | 210 | $18.85 | $39,210 | $29,840 | $33,590 | $37,880 | $45,120 | $51,940 |
Physical therapists in Wisconsin may earn up to 30-35 percent more than dental assistants. But dental assistants receive better compensation than pharmacy technicians, medical assistants or nursing assistants.
Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pharmacy Technicians | 7990 | $16.37 | $34,050 | $23,850 | $28,070 | $33,950 | $39,350 | $46,290 |
Nursing Assistants | 30880 | $15.04 | $31,280 | $25,010 | $27,630 | $30,980 | $35,310 | $38,920 |
Physical Therapist Assistants | 1600 | $25.58 | $53,210 | $35,210 | $45,490 | $55,050 | $61,840 | $67,480 |
Dental Assistants | 6280 | $19.14 | $39,800 | $30,200 | $34,100 | $38,870 | $45,930 | $51,380 |
Medical Assistants | 12420 | $17.91 | $37,250 | $29,550 | $33,290 | $37,020 | $41,430 | $47,680 |