Tennessee Dental Assistant Salary

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development expects the number of jobs for dental assistants will rise from 5,560 in 2012 to 6,700 by 2022. This positive employment increase of 1,140 workers reflects an average annual change of 1.0%, which mirrors the growth change anticipated for all occupations in Tennessee.

Typical Salary Ranges for Dental Assistants in Tennessee

In 2013, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development discovered dental assistants in Tennessee were earning an average salary of $34,038/yr. and an average wage of $16.35.

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However, employers were more inclined to award more experienced workers with larger incomes. For instance, in 2013, the entry-level dental assistants received an average salary of $25,705/yr. or an average wage of $12.35/hr.

Comparably, dental assistants that offered more experience to their positions often received a notably higher average salary of $38,506/yr. or $18.50/hr. in that same year.

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A dental assistant’s desired salary range is often even lower than what they were actually paid in Tennessee. For example, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, in October 2014 51.67% of dental assistant job candidates aspired to earn between $20,000 and $34,999/yr.

Highest Paying Metro Regions for Dental Assistants in Tennessee

Tennessee salary and wage averages for dental assistants differ based on a particular locality’s dental service demands and resources. In 2013, the Department of Labor and Workforce announced the highest paying metropolitan areas for this occupation were as follows:

  • Chattanooga, TN: $37,215/yr.
  • Knoxville, TN: $35,700/yr.
  • Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, TN: $35,287/yr.
  • Johnson City, TN: $35,053/yr.
  • Morristown, TN: $33,844/yr.

To research supplementary salary and wage statistics for dental assistants by region please consult the table below, provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2013:

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Chattanooga TN-GA
460
36870
Clarksville TN-KY
360
32130
Cleveland TN
90
32450
Jackson TN
130
33020
Johnson City TN
170
35410
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol TN-VA
350
31340
Knoxville TN
810
35630
Memphis TN-MS-AR
1080
33520
Morristown TN
120
32700
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin TN
1940
35110
Western Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
220
29990
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
250
30690
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
240
31050