Dental Assistants Salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
The median pay for a dental assistants in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ is $48,710/year ($23.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.97), that's roughly $48,725 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,634/month — about 48.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton’s Regional Price Parity (99.97). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About dental assistants
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65K | +37% | 5,590 |
| Massachusetts | $58K | +23% | 9,250 |
| Oregon | $58K | +22% | 5,480 |
| Washington | $57K | +21% | 13,330 |
| District of Columbia | $57K | +19% | 510 |
| Alaska | $56K | +18% | 1,080 |
| Maine | $51K | +9% | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $51K | +8% | 920 |
| Vermont | $51K | +8% | 650 |
| Connecticut | $51K | +7% | 3,740 |
| New Hampshire | $50K | +6% | 1,400 |
| Arizona | $49K | +4% | 7,480 |
| California | $49K | +3% | 54,580 |
| North Carolina | $49K | +3% | 11,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | +2% | 12,410 |
| Maryland | $48K | +2% | 6,520 |
| New Jersey | $48K | +2% | 10,660 |
| Rhode Island | $48K | +2% | 1,120 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | +1% | 6,720 |
| Indiana | $48K | +1% | 6,250 |
| Iowa | $48K | +1% | 3,540 |
| South Dakota | $48K | +1% | 1,240 |
| Illinois | $47K | +0% | 15,620 |
| Ohio | $47K | +0% | 11,130 |
| Florida | $47K | -1% | 23,020 |
| Michigan | $47K | -1% | 11,830 |
| New York | $47K | -1% | 19,700 |
| Nevada | $47K | -1% | 3,890 |
| Virginia | $47K | -1% | 11,040 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -1% | 2,360 |
| Kentucky | $47K | -2% | 4,250 |
| Delaware | $46K | -3% | 1,120 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -3% | 6,370 |
| South Carolina | $46K | -3% | 5,380 |
| Montana | $46K | -3% | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $46K | -4% | 9,730 |
| Missouri | $45K | -4% | 7,380 |
| Hawaii | $45K | -5% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -6% | 4,540 |
| Wyoming | $43K | -10% | 700 |
| Texas | $42K | -11% | 31,360 |
| Kansas | $40K | -16% | 3,020 |
| Idaho | $39K | -17% | 2,860 |
| New Mexico | $39K | -18% | 2,010 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -19% | 4,420 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -20% | 3,020 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -21% | 1,380 |
| Utah | $37K | -21% | 6,310 |
| Alabama | $37K | -21% | 4,450 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -22% | 2,690 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dental assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
How much do dental assistants make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median is $48,710 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,920, and experienced dental assistants can clear $60,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,307/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,634/month, which eats 49.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dental assistants salary go in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton?
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton has a Regional Price Parity of 99.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental assistants salary is worth about $48,725 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dental assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.