Missouri Dental Assistant Salary

As is the case throughout the country, the field of dental assisting is increasing in Missouri. The rate of increase is projected to be 18.34% in the ten-year period leading up to 2022, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development (MDED).

Of the 1,982 jobs projected to become available during this period, 53% will be due to the replacement of dental assistants leaving the workforce. The remaining 930 jobs will be due to growth.

Search Dental Assistant Programs

You know you’re ready to make the move to become an administrative or clinical dental assistant. All you need is the training to make it happen. Learn more about flexible training options and the cost of programs in your area.

Sponsored Listings

The number of dental assistant jobs projected to become available will be particularly high in the St. Louis Workforce Investment Area (WIA). Twenty-six percent of the new jobs are expected to be located in that WIA.

The average 2013 dental assistant salary in Missouri was $33,866. Experienced dental assistants earned $38,422 a year. Those entering the workforce averaged $24,754 that year.

SPONSORED LISTINGS

The MDED provides a breakdown of dental assistant salaries by region. Salaries varied substantially throughout these regions. The average Missouri dental assistant salary was highest in the St. Charles County region:

Missouri Region
Entry-level
Experienced
Central
$23997
$34308
Kansas City
$28458
$39945
Northeast
$24418
$40249
Northwest
$25971
$36383
Ozark
$24203
$36540
South central
$17030
$31292
Southeast
$20482
$31114
Southwest
$19983
$33248
Charles County
$30302
$40723
Louis
$26500
$40637
West central
$18171
$26491

In 2013, 5,130 dental assistants were employed in Missouri. Over one third of them were located in the St. Louis region.

For comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also provides a detailed analysis of 2013 dental assisting salary percentiles throughout metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Missouri:

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Cape Girardeau-Jackson MO-IL
110
24840
Columbia MO
220
34020
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers AR-MO
530
30260
Jefferson City MO
90
31400
Joplin MO
200
29270
Kansas City MO-KS
1870
38280
St. Joseph MO-KS
70
29760
St. Louis MO-IL
2480
35560
Springfield MO
650
32400
Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area
350
27350
North Missouri nonmetropolitan area
160
33210
Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area
160
28770
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area
80
26860