Dental Assistants Salary
The median pay for a dental assistants in Colorado is $48,340/year ($23.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Colorado?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Assistants salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $59K | +22% | 520 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $49K | +2% | 4,160 |
| Colorado Springs | $48K | -0% | 1,360 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $48K | -1% | 510 |
| Greeley | $47K | -2% | 360 |
| Grand Junction | $46K | -4% | 300 |
| Pueblo | $46K | -5% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track dental assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 63.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental assistants in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental assistants typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,310/month.
Is dental assistant a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $48K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for dental assistants?
Colorado pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +1%.
How much do dental assistants make in Colorado?
The median is $48,340 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,500, and experienced dental assistants can clear $60,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,229/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 63.3% 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 Colorado?
Colorado 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 $48,340 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.