Dental Assistants Salary
The median pay for a dental assistants in Arecibo, PR is $35,100/year ($16.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100), that's roughly $35,100 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $510/month, or 21.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $35K get you in Arecibo?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Arecibo’s Regional Price Parity (100). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dental assistants
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What this looks like in Arecibo
Pay for dental assistants in Arecibo runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $48K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $510/month, 20.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arecibo can be a reasonable trade-off for dental assistantss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dental assistants in metros near Arecibo, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas | $36K | $36K |
| Ponce | $30K | $30K |
| Mayaguez | $29K | $29K |
| Aguadilla | $35K | $35K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arecibo, PR
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dental Assistants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65K | +36% | 5,980 |
| District of Columbia | $61K | +26% | 630 |
| Maine | $60K | +25% | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | +24% | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59K | +24% | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58K | +21% | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $58K | +21% | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $58K | +20% | 860 |
| Alaska | $58K | +20% | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $57K | +18% | 3,840 |
| Vermont | $53K | +10% | 580 |
| North Carolina | $50K | +5% | 11,450 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +4% | 1,050 |
| California | $50K | +4% | 56,220 |
| New Jersey | $49K | +3% | 9,990 |
| Arizona | $49K | +2% | 8,680 |
| Michigan | $49K | +2% | 11,990 |
| Indiana | $49K | +1% | 6,690 |
| Maryland | $49K | +1% | 6,560 |
| Illinois | $49K | +1% | 13,740 |
| Iowa | $48K | +1% | 3,210 |
| Colorado | $48K | +1% | 8,360 |
| New York | $48K | +0% | 19,800 |
| Ohio | $48K | -0% | 12,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -0% | 12,080 |
| South Dakota | $48K | -0% | 1,290 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -1% | 4,530 |
| Florida | $48K | -1% | 26,620 |
| Delaware | $48K | -1% | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -1% | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -2% | 5,530 |
| Nevada | $47K | -2% | 4,230 |
| Georgia | $47K | -3% | 10,540 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -3% | 7,420 |
| Montana | $47K | -3% | 1,450 |
| Virginia | $47K | -3% | 10,760 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -3% | 2,520 |
| Missouri | $46K | -4% | 6,760 |
| Idaho | $46K | -5% | 2,680 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -5% | 4,550 |
| Texas | $45K | -5% | 33,230 |
| Wyoming | $45K | -6% | 630 |
| Hawaii | $45K | -7% | 1,960 |
| New Mexico | $44K | -8% | 2,150 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -8% | 4,540 |
| Arkansas | $43K | -11% | 2,950 |
| Mississippi | $39K | -19% | 3,080 |
| Alabama | $39K | -19% | 3,740 |
| West Virginia | $38K | -21% | 1,290 |
| Utah | $38K | -21% | 6,640 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
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 Arecibo numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arecibo?
Yes — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 20.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $510/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental assistants in Arecibo?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental assistants typically earn — is $22K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,348/month. At HUD’s $510/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dental assistant a high-paying job in Arecibo?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $35K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Arecibo compare to the national average for dental assistants?
Arecibo pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do dental assistants make in Arecibo, PR?
The median is $35,100 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,470, and experienced dental assistants can clear $55,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Arecibo?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,520/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $510/month, which eats 20.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dental assistants salary go in Arecibo?
Arecibo has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental assistants salary is worth about $35,100 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.