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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.

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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.

AreaNameBase YearEmployedProjection YearProjected EmploymentChange% ChangeProjected Average Annual Job Openings
United States2018346,0002026384,70038,70019.5%44,800
Wisconsin20165,69020266,26057010.0%700

StateTotal EmployedHourly MeanHourly MeanAnnual Mean10th Percentile25th PercentileAnnual Median75th Percentile
U.S.351,470$19.79$41,170$27,980$33,440$40,080$48,550$56,930
Wisconsin6,280$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.

AreaTotal EmployedHourly MeanAnnual Mean10th Percentile25th PercentileAnnual Median75th Percentile90th Percentile
Appleton, WI290$20.55$42,740$32,130$35,750$41,330$48,050$54,830
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI10760$19.72$41,030$29,490$34,190$41,110$48,590$53,610
Duluth, MN-WI280$22.76$47,340$36,130$41,600$47,560$53,300$60,000
Eau Claire, WI200$17.99$37,420$29,570$32,860$36,840$41,140$48,250
Fond du Lac, WI110$20.23$42,070$33,830$37,090$41,620$47,370$51,600
Green Bay, WI380$19.46$40,470$29,500$33,670$39,500$47,300$54,280
Janesville-Beloit, WI150$18.67$38,830$27,870$33,770$39,870$45,850$49,760
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN170$20.72$43,100$33,100$36,040$41,730$49,490$58,350
Madison, WI710$20.53$42,700$32,840$37,260$43,260$48,470$52,270
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI1970$18.79$39,080$29,930$33,710$37,880$44,460$50,580
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI3760$26.21$54,510$43,290$47,760$53,930$60,400$64,810
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI140$18.45$38,380$21,470$33,390$39,090$46,300$51,430
Racine, WI200$18.07$37,580$28,660$32,190$37,620$42,850$48,140
Sheboygan, WI130$18.22$37,900$22,710$27,000$37,660$46,140$53,340
Wausau, WI210$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.

OccupationTotal EmployedHourly MeanAnnual Mean10th Percentile25th PercentileAnnual Median75th Percentile90th Percentile
Pharmacy Technicians7990$16.37$34,050$23,850$28,070$33,950$39,350$46,290
Nursing Assistants30880$15.04$31,280$25,010$27,630$30,980$35,310$38,920
Physical Therapist Assistants1600$25.58$53,210$35,210$45,490$55,050$61,840$67,480
Dental Assistants6280$19.14$39,800$30,200$34,100$38,870$45,930$51,380
Medical Assistants12420$17.91$37,250$29,550$33,290$37,020$41,430$47,680


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