Dental Assistants Salary
The median pay for a dental assistants in Tennessee is $46,720/year ($22.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $52,038 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 36.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Tennessee?
About dental assistants
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Dental assistants pay in Tennessee 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 $1,215/month, which is 36.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Assistants salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $49K | +4% | 2,730 |
| Memphis | $48K | +3% | 1,200 |
| Knoxville | $47K | +0% | 1,030 |
| Jackson | $47K | -0% | 190 |
| Chattanooga | $46K | -1% | 670 |
| Clarksville | $46K | -1% | 320 |
| Morristown | $46K | -3% | 130 |
| Johnson City | $46K | -3% | 220 |
| Cleveland | $45K | -3% | 140 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $45K | -3% | 320 |
Compare to other states
Track dental assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 36.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental assistants typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,269/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for dental assistants?
Tennessee pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental assistants make in Tennessee?
The median is $46,720 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,810, and experienced dental assistants can clear $61,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,298/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 36.8% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $52,038 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.