Dental Assistants Salary in Iowa City, IA
The median pay for a dental assistants in Iowa City, IA is $48,890/year ($23.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.51), which stretches that salary to about $53,426 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $962/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $49K get you in Iowa City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Iowa City’s Regional Price Parity (91.51). 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, Iowa City, IA
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $16K 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 Iowa City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dental assistants make in Iowa City, IA?
The median is $48,890 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,570, and experienced dental assistants can clear $61,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Iowa City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,247/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $962/month, which eats 29.6% 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 Iowa City?
Iowa City has a Regional Price Parity of 91.51 (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 $53,426 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.