Dental Assistant Salary in Boston, MA
Dental Assistants in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $58,160 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,224 take-home, or $3,852 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental assistant salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,799
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,606
- Medicare (1.45%)$843
- Massachusetts income tax$2,688
- Take-home pay$46,224
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Assistant pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,780 | $22.97 | $38,402 | $3,200 |
| 25th percentile | $48,770 | $23.45 | $39,148 | $3,262 |
| Median (50th) | $58,160 | $27.96 | $46,224 | $3,852 |
| 75th percentile | $61,050 | $29.35 | $48,401 | $4,033 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,780 | $34.99 | $56,612 | $4,718 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,160 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental assistant's $46,224 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,694 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dental Assistant jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.07).
Best-paying cities for dental assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #11 of 36 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $72,370 | $56,345 | $53,753 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $74,600 | $57,585 | $52,150 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $62,040 | $52,029 | $46,817 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $64,390 | $51,141 | $44,235 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $58,580 | $46,923 | $43,989 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $59,890 | $45,891 | $43,531 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,590 | $41,444 | $43,456 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $48,190 | $39,573 | $42,762 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $58,160 | $46,224 | $42,694 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 36 metros →
About the job: dental assistants
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in Boston, MA?
The median dental assistant salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $58,160 a year, or about $27.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,770 and $61,050.
What is a dental assistant’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $58,160 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $46,224 a year ($3,852 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,688 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $48,070. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,694 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #11 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental assistant afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median dental assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Medical Assistant — $50,740
- Nursing Assistant — $47,590
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $40,910