SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
At $49,040, median pay for Dental Assistants in Southern Indiana, IN tracks the national median of $48,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $49,040, median pay for Dental Assistants in Southern Indiana, IN tracks the national median of $48,070 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $47,400 and $49,430. The lowest tenth earn under $36,110, while the highest tenth earn more than $57,760.
The area has 340 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.70 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Elkhart leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $52,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 222nd of 397 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,110 | −24.9% |
| 25th | $47,400 | −1.4% |
| Median (50th) | $49,040 | +2.0% |
| 75th | $49,430 | +2.8% |
| 90th | $57,760 | +20.2% |
| Mean | $48,500 | +0.9% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elkhart | $52,830 | 160 | |
| 2 | Indianapolis | $48,970 | 2,200 | |
| 3 | Michigan City | $48,920 | 80 | |
| 4 | Lafayette | $48,730 | 190 | |
| 5 | Fort Wayne | $48,670 | 630 | |
| 6 | Kokomo | $48,360 | 140 | |
| 7 | Bloomington | $48,170 | 130 | |
| 8 | Evansville | $48,000 | 300 | |
| 9 | South Bend | $47,770 | 360 | |
| 10 | Columbus | $47,260 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southern Indiana run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $49,040 goes as far as $52,562 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,562US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,040 a year, 2.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,110 to $57,760 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Elkhart, at $52,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in Southern Indiana, IN?
The median annual wage is $49,040, or $23.58 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 Southern Indiana, IN is 2.0% 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 Southern Indiana, IN earns more than $57,760 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,110 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 Elkhart, at $52,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Southern Indiana, IN. 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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