SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — Tennessee
Tennessee · 10 metro areas compared
At $46,720, median pay for Dental Assistants in Tennessee tracks the national median of $48,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $46,720, median pay for Dental Assistants in Tennessee tracks the national median of $48,070 closely. Pay ranges from under $37,810 at the tenth percentile to more than $61,260 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,440 to $59,270.
Employment stands at 7,420, or 2.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Tennessee ranks number 34th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $48,540. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 474th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,810 | −21.3% |
| 25th | $44,440 | −7.6% |
| Median (50th) | $46,720 | −2.8% |
| 75th | $59,270 | +23.3% |
| 90th | $61,260 | +27.4% |
| Mean | $49,670 | +3.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $48,540 | 2,730 | |
| 2 | Memphis | $48,200 | 1,200 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $46,790 | 1,030 | |
| 4 | Jackson | $46,590 | 190 | |
| 5 | Chattanooga | $46,360 | 670 | |
| 6 | Clarksville | $46,050 | 320 | |
| 7 | Morristown | $45,550 | 130 | |
| 8 | Johnson City | $45,540 | 220 | |
| 9 | Cleveland | $45,230 | 140 | |
| 10 | Kingsport | $45,110 | 320 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $46,720 goes as far as $50,838 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,720as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,838US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,720 a year, 2.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,810 to $61,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,420 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 34th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $48,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $46,720, or $22.46 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 Tennessee is 2.8% 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 Tennessee earns more than $61,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,810 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 Nashville, at $48,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,420 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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