SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — Rhode Island
Rhode Island · 1 metro areas compared
At $50,150, median pay for Dental Assistants in Rhode Island tracks the national median of $48,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $50,150, median pay for Dental Assistants in Rhode Island tracks the national median of $48,070 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $48,070 and $59,170. The lowest tenth earn under $45,640, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,900.
The area has 1,050 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.84 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Rhode Island ranks 13th by median wage. Providence leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 382nd of 545 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,640 | −5.1% |
| 25th | $48,070 | +0.0% |
| Median (50th) | $50,150 | +4.3% |
| 75th | $59,170 | +23.1% |
| 90th | $60,900 | +26.7% |
| Mean | $52,790 | +9.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Rhode Island
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $49,460 | 1,650 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rhode Island run 2.3% above the national average, so the median of $50,150 buys what $49,022 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
102.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,022US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,150 a year, 4.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $45,640 to $60,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,050 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 13th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Providence, at $49,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in Rhode Island?
The median annual wage is $50,150, or $24.11 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,070, so pay in Rhode Island is 4.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Rhode Island earns more than $60,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $45,640 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Providence, at $49,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,050 jobs in this occupation in Rhode Island. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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