Dental Assistant Salary in Florida: $49,036 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Florida's 87 metropolitan areas, the average median dental assistant pay sits at $49,036/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9091. Because Florida sits at BEA RPP 100.8 (1% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $48,647 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naples ($57,260), Punta Gorda ($51,020), Jacksonville ($50,270).

Dental Assistant Salary in Florida - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Florida dental assistant salary overview (2026)

$49,036

Avg Median Salary

$23.58

Avg Hourly Rate

26,928

Metro Employed

Cities

The dental assistant job market in Florida is projected to provide a salary landscape that is slightly below the national average. In 2026, the average median salary for dental assistants in Florida is expected to be $49,036, compared to the national median of $49,579, reflecting a difference of -1.1%. The highest paying city in the state is Naples, where dental assistants can earn an average of $59,058, while Plant City offers the lowest salaries at $45,322, creating a salary gap of $13,736. This disparity can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, demand for dental services, and potential employer budgets in metropolitan areas. Florida has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that allow dental assistants to perform a variety of tasks, influencing their employability and salary potential. Increased demand for dental services, partly due to an aging population and growing awareness of oral health, drives job opportunities in this field. With a projected growth rate of 3.14%, the market for dental assistants in Florida is expected to remain steady, with approximately 26,928 dental assistants employed across the state. Key cities expected to offer competitive salaries include Punta Gorda at $52,622, Jacksonville at $51,848, West Palm Beach at $50,475, and Sarasota at $50,441.

Florida Dental Assistant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$39,167

avg across 87 cities

Median

$49,036

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$60,707

avg across 87 cities

Overall salary range in Florida: $34,777 (lowest entry-level) to $74,158 (highest top earner)

Florida vs National Average

Florida

$49,036

National Median

$49,579

Florida dental assistants earn 1.1% less than the national median ($-543/year difference).

Florida Dental Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Dental Assistant salaries in Florida range from $39,167 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $60,707 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $49,036. The Florida median is $543 below the US national median of $49,579. The average hourly rate is $23.58/hr. Approximately 26,928 dental assistants are employed across 87 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$39,077

2025 BLS Actual

$47,543

2026 Current Est.

$49,036

2019–2027 Growth

+29.4%

Salary Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Florida (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$39,077	Actual
2020	$40,405	Actual
2021	$38,151	Actual
2022	$41,011	Actual
2023	$46,883	Actual
2024	$46,419	Actual
2025	$47,543	Actual
2026(current)	$49,036	Estimated
2027	$50,575	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Florida metropolitan area, the median dental assistant salary grew 21.7% from $39,077 (2019) to $47,543 (2025). At a 3.14% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $50,575 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,498 (29.42%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Florida metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.14% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Florida

Naples

550 employed · $28.39/hr

$59,058

+20.44% vs avg

Punta Gorda

200 employed · $25.30/hr

$52,622

+7.31% vs avg

Jacksonville

1,850 employed · $24.93/hr

$51,848

+5.73% vs avg

West Palm Beach

29 employed · $24.27/hr

$50,475

+2.93% vs avg

Sarasota

10 employed · $24.25/hr

$50,441

+2.87% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Florida

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Plant City	$45,322	-7.57%	$21.79
North Miami Beach	$45,486	-7.24%	$21.87
Oakland Park	$45,705	-6.79%	$21.97
Ocoee	$45,857	-6.48%	$22.05
Winter Springs	$45,868	-6.46%	$22.05

Best Value Cities for Dental Assistants in Florida

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Florida cities offer the most purchasing power for dental assistants.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Naples	$59,058	103.2	$57,227
Wildwood	$47,568	85.424	$55,685
Punta Gorda	$52,622	100.525	$52,347
Jacksonville	$51,848	99.484	$52,117
Sebring	$46,619	92.47	$50,415

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Florida

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$39,167	$18.83	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$49,036	$23.58	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$60,707	$29.19	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Florida metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 87 Cities in Florida

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Naples	$59,058	$28.39	$48,197	$74,158	550
2	Punta Gorda	$52,622	$25.30	$39,730	$58,975	200
3	Jacksonville	$51,848	$24.93	$37,615	$60,780	1,850
4	West Palm Beach	$50,475	$24.27	$38,157	$66,931	29
5	Sarasota	$50,441	$24.25	$38,118	$63,121	10
6	Hialeah	$50,375	$24.22	$36,759	$66,884	35
7	Melbourne	$50,017	$24.04	$38,662	$63,415	12
8	North Port	$49,703	$23.90	$41,400	$64,535	1,170
9	Coral Springs	$49,366	$23.73	$37,182	$63,479	34
10	Miami	$49,363	$23.73	$38,904	$60,729	9,180
11	Winter Haven	$49,124	$23.62	$37,771	$63,823	10
12	Pembroke Pines	$48,917	$23.52	$36,182	$67,093	40
13	Titusville	$48,898	$23.51	$37,070	$62,587	7
14	Palm Bay	$48,888	$23.51	$39,998	$60,646	800
15	Sanford	$48,885	$23.51	$37,325	$61,652	16
16	Clearwater	$48,685	$23.40	$35,643	$66,298	19
17	Crestview	$48,661	$23.39	$39,925	$60,265	300
18	Bradenton	$48,655	$23.39	$38,065	$62,256	13
19	Fort Lauderdale	$48,646	$23.39	$37,812	$64,141	29
20	Doral	$48,536	$23.33	$37,580	$61,490	16
21	Tampa	$48,362	$23.25	$38,801	$59,739	3,560
22	Largo	$48,309	$23.23	$37,033	$60,739	12
23	Fort Myers	$48,303	$23.23	$36,324	$64,804	23
24	Davie	$48,240	$23.20	$38,356	$64,629	18
25	Hollywood	$48,143	$23.14	$38,176	$64,334	37
26	Lakeland	$48,135	$23.14	$40,452	$59,924	580
27	St. Petersburg	$48,101	$23.12	$36,989	$66,210	42
28	Delray Beach	$48,009	$23.08	$36,318	$64,555	15
29	Orlando	$47,939	$23.05	$39,730	$60,492	3,260
30	Miramar	$47,919	$23.04	$37,602	$63,573	21
31	Sebastian	$47,888	$23.02	$38,904	$58,315	220
32	Palm Coast	$47,884	$23.02	$36,021	$64,257	12
33	Panama City	$47,878	$23.02	$38,822	$56,892	180
34	Port St. Lucie	$47,878	$23.02	$39,028	$57,676	530
35	Cape Coral	$47,826	$23.00	$40,410	$62,513	900
36	Gainesville	$47,795	$22.98	$38,647	$58,769	440
37	Boca Raton	$47,770	$22.97	$35,752	$63,876	17
38	Pensacola	$47,630	$22.90	$38,904	$59,285	550
39	Cutler Bay	$47,596	$22.89	$38,011	$60,256	10
40	Wildwood	$47,568	$22.87	$38,863	$57,769	150
41	Boynton Beach	$47,554	$22.87	$35,243	$60,132	12
42	Winter Park	$47,485	$22.82	$37,784	$60,012	7
43	Leesburg	$47,477	$22.82	$36,137	$58,308	4
44	North Miami	$47,455	$22.81	$35,012	$59,810	11
45	Port Orange	$47,441	$22.80	$34,931	$62,650	10
46	Jupiter	$47,375	$22.77	$34,777	$62,438	14
47	Miami Gardens	$47,350	$22.76	$36,329	$63,574	21
48	Plantation	$47,262	$22.72	$38,294	$62,054	15
49	Aventura	$47,250	$22.72	$37,155	$57,436	8
50	Royal Palm Beach	$47,239	$22.71	$37,177	$59,218	6
51	Pompano Beach	$47,199	$22.69	$35,982	$62,949	28
52	Homestead	$47,190	$22.69	$38,121	$61,793	14
53	Key West	$47,180	$22.68	$36,832	$57,357	4
54	Kissimmee	$47,147	$22.67	$37,181	$60,606	20
55	Tamarac	$47,088	$22.64	$37,875	$61,486	11
56	Apopka	$47,076	$22.63	$37,896	$63,287	8
57	Oviedo	$47,032	$22.61	$36,666	$61,330	10
58	Pinellas Park	$46,996	$22.60	$37,512	$63,021	13
59	Deerfield Beach	$46,962	$22.58	$36,205	$61,066	12
60	Deltona	$46,960	$22.58	$36,429	$56,294	670
61	Estero	$46,819	$22.51	$36,099	$60,639	6
62	Wellington	$46,803	$22.51	$37,196	$62,260	10
63	St. Cloud	$46,803	$22.51	$37,196	$60,552	11
64	Tallahassee	$46,753	$22.48	$36,893	$58,223	340
65	Coconut Creek	$46,697	$22.45	$36,992	$60,326	11
66	Altamonte Springs	$46,645	$22.42	$35,528	$57,315	9
67	Lauderhill	$46,640	$22.42	$36,858	$60,141	19
68	Sebring	$46,619	$22.41	$37,295	$59,759	90
69	Homosassa Springs	$46,557	$22.38	$38,822	$57,748	100
70	Sunrise	$46,530	$22.37	$36,407	$59,782	23
71	Palm Beach Gardens	$46,526	$22.37	$36,399	$59,771	9
72	Margate	$46,511	$22.36	$36,363	$59,721	13
73	North Lauderdale	$46,452	$22.33	$35,258	$56,588	7
74	Haines City	$46,452	$22.33	$35,258	$59,565	5
75	DeLand	$46,430	$22.32	$38,837	$59,493	7
76	Bonita Springs	$46,382	$22.30	$36,203	$60,847	13
77	Ocala	$46,310	$22.27	$38,574	$57,098	370
78	Ormond Beach	$46,237	$22.23	$37,724	$57,782	7
79	Winter Garden	$46,184	$22.21	$38,425	$58,705	10
80	Clermont	$46,158	$22.20	$38,361	$58,623	11
81	Daytona Beach	$46,157	$22.20	$36,359	$60,966	14
82	Dunedin	$45,891	$22.06	$37,509	$57,770	6
83	Winter Springs	$45,868	$22.05	$37,648	$57,699	8
84	Ocoee	$45,857	$22.05	$37,620	$57,664	10
85	Oakland Park	$45,705	$21.97	$37,249	$57,068	6
86	North Miami Beach	$45,486	$21.87	$36,716	$58,100	11
87	Plant City	$45,322	$21.79	$36,129	$57,581	7

More Florida Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore dental assistant hourly pay in Florida cities.

Naples →Punta Gorda →Jacksonville →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new dental assistants.

Naples →Punta Gorda →Jacksonville →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced dental assistants.

Naples →Punta Gorda →Jacksonville →

Compare Cities in Florida

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Dental Assistant Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dental assistants make in Florida in 2026?

The average median dental assistant salary in Florida is $49,036/year across 87 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $45,322 in Plant City to $59,058 in Naples. This makes Florida 1.1% below the national median of $49,579. The state employs approximately 26,928 dental assistants.

What is the highest paying city for dental assistants in Florida?

Naples offers the highest dental assistant salary in Florida at $59,058/year ($28.39/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naples ($59,058), Punta Gorda ($52,622), Jacksonville ($51,848). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for dental assisting services, and competition among employers for licensed dental assistants.

How does Florida dental assistant pay compare to the national average?

Florida's average dental assistant salary of $49,036 is 1.1% below the national median of $49,579 in 2026. The state employs approximately 26,928 dental assistants across 87 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level dental assistant salary in Florida?

Entry-level dental assistants (10th percentile) in Florida earn approximately $39,167/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $34,777 in lower-paying areas to $48,197 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many dental assistants are employed in Florida?

Florida employs approximately 26,928 dental assistants across 87 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Florida one of the larger employers of dental assistants nationally. Demand continues to grow as the dental assisting field expands and the population ages.

Which Florida city offers the best value for dental assistants?

When adjusted for cost of living, Naples offers the highest purchasing power for dental assistants in Florida, with an adjusted salary of $57,227 (nominal: $59,058, CoL index: 103.2). This means your dollar goes 3% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Maria Gonzalez, CDA, RDH

Career Analyst

Maria Gonzalez has over 10 years of experience in dental assisting. She specializes in pediatric dentistry. She works in a private dental practice.

Clinically reviewed by James Thompson, CDAData verified by Aisha Patel, CDA, MA

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 dental assistant compensation across Florida. State averages are employment-weighted across 87 metro areas — larger metro areas with more dental assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.14%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental assistants (SOC 31-9091).

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, CDA, RDH, a licensed dental assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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