--- title: "Dental assistant pay in Missouri: what BLS data shows" description: "BLS data for May 2025 lists a median wage of $45,970 for Missouri dental assistants, below the $48,070 national median. See the figures and how to read them." url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-assistant-salary-in-missouri publisher: Copeland Consulting Services email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact --- # Dental assistant pay in Missouri: what BLS data shows The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 6,760 dental assistants in Missouri in May 2025, with a mean wage of $46,790 and a median of $45,970 a year, or $22.10 an hour. The national median is $48,070. Pay in one office depends on duties, skills and local labor markets. Team and leadershipPublished October 26, 20264 min read The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes wage data for dental assistants by state. The data year here is May 2025. This post gives the Missouri figures, sets them beside the national figures and explains what the numbers do and do not say. It does not set pay for any office. ## What do dental assistants earn in Missouri? Missouri dental assistants had a median wage of $22.10 an hour, or $45,970 a year, in May 2025. The mean wage was $22.49 an hour, or $46,790 a year. The BLS counts 6,760 dental assistants in the state. The median is the middle wage: half earned more and half earned less. Measure, May 2025 Missouri United States Employment 6,760 387,790 Annual mean wage $46,790 $50,200 Annual median wage $45,970 $48,070 Hourly mean wage $22.49 $24.13 Hourly median wage $22.10 $23.11 Both columns come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) tables for “Dental Assistants (31-9091).” The Missouri median is about $2,100 below the national median. The tables do not say why. ## How wide is the range of pay? Nationally, the lowest 10 percent of dental assistants earned less than $37,130 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,250. The BLS does not publish that spread for Missouri on the pages used here. It does show that two assistants with the same title can earn very different amounts. The BLS handbook describes the job in broad terms: dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records and schedule appointments. Offices may assign these tasks in different mixes, so job content can vary under one title. ## What training do dental assistants need? Training rules depend on the state. The BLS says some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. In other states there are no formal educational requirements, and dental assistants learn through on-the-job training. Many assisting programs take about one year and lead to a certificate or diploma. For Missouri rules, the Missouri Dental Board is the authority. Missouri also has an expanded function path for assistants. The post on [expanded function dental assistants in Missouri](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/expanded-function-dental-assistants-in-missouri) explains that path. The [dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-assistant) and [expanded function dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/expanded-function-dental-assistant) entries define the roles. ## What can this data not tell a reader? Wage tables leave out a lot. Use the points below to read them with care. - They report wages, not benefits, bonuses or paid time off. - They report a statewide figure, so they hide differences between St. Louis, Kansas City and rural areas. - They do not show experience, certification or duties. - They are survey estimates, and each carries sampling error. - They describe the past: the data year is May 2025. A dental office that wants to set a fair wage should look at its own duties, its local market and current offers. Employment law, overtime and classification questions belong with an employment attorney or the U.S. Department of Labor. ## Why does the pay data matter for staffing? Pay is one part of hiring and keeping a team. The American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute reports on workforce shortages and recruiting challenges across the dental team. The [workforce shortage](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/workforce-shortage) entry gives the terms. Read the post on [the dental assistant shortage](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-assistant-shortage) for what that data shows. Retention also depends on more than a wage. The [employee retention](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/employee-retention) entry covers the topic in plain terms. For a broader look at hiring, see [how to hire a dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/how-to-hire-a-dental-assistant). ## How do other Missouri dental team wages compare? The same Missouri table lists nearby roles. This helps place assistant pay inside the whole office. Receptionists and information clerks are a broad group that is not limited to dental offices, so read that row as a rough comparison. Role, May 2025 (Missouri) Employment Annual mean wage Annual median wage Dentists, general 2,440 $241,580 $204,960 Dental hygienists 3,810 $88,430 $92,750 Dental assistants 6,760 $46,790 $45,970 Dental laboratory technicians 740 $53,980 $46,870 Receptionists and information clerks 18,890 $37,040 $35,740 Missouri has more dental assistants than hygienists or general dentists in this table. Assistants make up the largest group of dental clinical staff in the state data. For pay in the hygienist role, see [dental hygienist pay in Missouri](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-hygienist-salary-in-missouri). ## What questions help when comparing offers? A wage table cannot answer these. The offer itself must. 1. Which duties are included, such as chairside work, x rays, sterilization and front desk tasks? 2. Is the pay hourly or salaried, and how are overtime hours handled? 3. What training does the office provide or pay for? 4. What is the schedule, and how often does it change? Overtime and classification rules fall under federal and state law. An employment attorney or the U.S. Department of Labor can answer them. The post on [how to hire a dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/how-to-hire-a-dental-assistant) covers the hiring steps around these questions, and the [onboarding](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/onboarding) entry explains why a clear start matters for new staff. ## Next step The [hiring and keeping a dental team guide](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/hire-and-keep-a-dental-team) pulls workforce data, pay data and hiring basics together. To talk about team and practice management, [contact Dr. Copeland about consulting](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the average dental assistant salary in Missouri? For May 2025, the BLS lists an annual mean wage of $46,790 and a median of $45,970 for Missouri dental assistants. The hourly figures are $22.49 for the mean and $22.10 for the median. Half of Missouri assistants earned more than the median. ### How does Missouri compare with the national wage? The national median for dental assistants is $48,070 and the national mean is $50,200 for May 2025. The Missouri median of $45,970 is lower. The data does not give a reason, and local conditions vary within the state. ### Do dental assistants need formal training in every state? No. The BLS says some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam, while in other states there are no formal educational requirements and assistants learn through on-the-job training. Check Missouri Dental Board rules for current requirements. ## Terms on this page - [Expanded function dental assistant](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/expanded-function-dental-assistant) - [American Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/american-dental-association) - [Missouri Dental Board](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/missouri-dental-board) - [Employee retention](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/employee-retention) - [Workforce shortage](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/workforce-shortage) - [Dental hygienist](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-hygienist) - [Dental team](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-team) - [Onboarding](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/onboarding) ## Sources 1. [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Missouri, May 2025](https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/2900000/2025) 2. [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national, May 2025](https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0000000/2025) 3. [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Dental Assistants, Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm) Written by Copeland Consulting Services and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. Rules, data and guidance change, so check the linked page before you act on it. ## Keep reading - [Dental hygienist pay in Missouri: what BLS data showsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 3,810 dental hygienists in Missouri in May 2025, with a mean wage of $88,430 and a median of $92,750 a year, or $44.59 an hour. The national median is $98,100. Many hygienists work part time, so annual figures do not fit every job.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-hygienist-salary-in-missouri) - [How to hire and keep a dental teamDental team hiring is hard because the supply of assistants and hygienists is tight. ADA Health Policy Institute research links retention to workplace culture, work-life balance and fair pay. Write job ads and interview questions around the job's duties, and ask an employment attorney before you finalize hiring and pay policies.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/hire-and-keep-a-dental-team) - [Dental assistant shortage: what ADA data showsADA Health Policy Institute data shows hiring dental assistants stayed hard but eased: nearly 87% of recruiting dentists called it very or extremely challenging in late 2022, and slightly more than 70% did by the end of 2024. BLS projects about 53,000 dental assistant openings each year through 2035.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-assistant-shortage) - [Expanded function dental assistants in Missouri: the pathAn expanded function dental assistant (EFDA) is a dental assistant with added training who can perform extra tasks when a dentist delegates them. In Missouri, the path runs through an eligibility exam or license, an MDA course, and a Dental Board permit that must be issued before delegation.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/expanded-function-dental-assistants-in-missouri) - [How to hire a dental assistant: steps, pay data, rulesDefine the role, check what your state allows assistants to do, set pay with current data, then screen, interview, and onboard. BLS reported a $48,070 median wage for dental assistants in May 2025. In Missouri, expanded function training runs through approved courses.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/how-to-hire-a-dental-assistant) - [AI in the dental practice: what it does, what studies show and what to checkAI in dentistry mostly means software that reads images or handles office tasks. Studies of radiograph tools show promising accuracy but often rest on weak designs. Some image tools are regulated by the FDA as prescription devices. Any tool that touches patient data raises HIPAA questions you should settle before use.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/ai-in-the-dental-practice) ## Talk with Dr. Copeland [Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)