SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — Tampa
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL · 10 metro areas compared
At $46,890, median pay for Dental Assistants in Tampa, FL tracks the national median of $48,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $46,890, median pay for Dental Assistants in Tampa, FL tracks the national median of $48,070 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $45,080 and $55,150. The lowest tenth earn under $37,620, while the highest tenth earn more than $57,920.
Employment stands at 3,560, or 2.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Naples leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $57,260. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 420th of 629 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,620 | −21.7% |
| 25th | $45,080 | −6.2% |
| Median (50th) | $46,890 | −2.5% |
| 75th | $55,150 | +14.7% |
| 90th | $57,920 | +20.5% |
| Mean | $47,900 | −0.4% |
Other metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naples | $57,260 | 550 | |
| 2 | Punta Gorda | $51,020 | 200 | |
| 3 | Jacksonville | $50,270 | 1,850 | |
| 4 | North Port | $48,190 | 1,170 | |
| 5 | Miami | $47,860 | 9,180 | |
| 6 | Palm Bay | $47,400 | 800 | |
| 7 | Crestview | $47,180 | 300 | |
| 8 | Lakeland | $46,670 | 580 | |
| 9 | Orlando | $46,480 | 3,260 | |
| 10 | Sebastian | $46,430 | 220 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tampa run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $46,890 buys what $45,348 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,890as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,348US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,890 a year, 2.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,620 to $57,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,560 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Naples, at $57,260.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in Tampa, FL?
The median annual wage is $46,890, or $22.54 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 Tampa, FL is 2.5% lower. 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 Tampa, FL earns more than $57,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,620 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 Naples, at $57,260 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,560 jobs in this occupation in Tampa, FL. 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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