Dental Assistants Salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
The median pay for a dental assistants in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $35,730/year ($17.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.97), which stretches that salary to about $41,561 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,047/month — about 40.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $36K get you in Brownsville-Harlingen?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Brownsville-Harlingen’s Regional Price Parity (85.97). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $17K 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 Brownsville-Harlingen numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dental assistants make in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
The median is $35,730 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,660, and experienced dental assistants can clear $45,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $36K enough to live in Brownsville-Harlingen?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,562/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,047/month, which eats 40.9% 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 Brownsville-Harlingen?
Brownsville-Harlingen has a Regional Price Parity of 85.97 (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 $41,561 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.