Dental Assistants Salary
The median pay for a dental assistants in Arkansas is $42,830/year ($20.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $48,870 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,021/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $43K get you in Arkansas?
About dental assistants
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for dental assistants in Arkansas runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $48K. Rent runs $1,021/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Assistants salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $47K | +10% | 680 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $45K | +5% | 920 |
| Hot Springs | $37K | -13% | 100 |
| Fort Smith | $37K | -13% | 220 |
| Jonesboro | $37K | -14% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track dental assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental assistants in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental assistants typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,104/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Arkansas?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $43K here vs. $48K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for dental assistants?
Arkansas pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental assistants make in Arkansas?
The median is $42,830 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,060, and experienced dental assistants can clear $48,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,913/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 35% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $48,870 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.