Dental Assistants Salary
The median pay for a dental assistants in Georgia is $46,840/year ($22.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $50,974 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,434/month, about 44.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Georgia?
About dental assistants
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Dental assistants pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,434/month, which is 45.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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, Georgia
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Assistants salary by metro in Georgia
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $47K | +1% | 6,700 |
| Rome | $46K | -2% | 110 |
| Gainesville | $46K | -2% | 220 |
| Savannah | $46K | -2% | 380 |
| Hinesville | $44K | -6% | 70 |
| Warner Robins | $44K | -6% | 180 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $44K | -6% | 160 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $44K | -6% | 200 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $44K | -6% | 140 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $44K | -7% | 670 |
| Valdosta | $43K | -7% | 120 |
| Albany | $43K | -9% | 110 |
| Columbus | $42K | -10% | 260 |
| Dalton | $38K | -20% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
Track dental assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 45.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/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 Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental assistants typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,185/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for dental assistants?
Georgia pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental assistants make in Georgia?
The median is $46,840 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,410, and experienced dental assistants can clear $57,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,130/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 45.8% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $50,974 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.