Dental Assistant Salary in Durham, NC
Dental Assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $51,670 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,144 take-home, or $3,512 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental assistant salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,020
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,204
- Medicare (1.45%)$749
- North Carolina income tax$1,553
- Take-home pay$42,144
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Dental Assistant pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,530 | $19.00 | $32,874 | $2,739 |
| 25th percentile | $49,390 | $23.75 | $40,403 | $3,367 |
| Median (50th) | $51,670 | $24.84 | $42,144 | $3,512 |
| 75th percentile | $59,180 | $28.45 | $47,879 | $3,990 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,920 | $29.29 | $49,207 | $4,101 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,670 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental assistant's $42,144 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,193 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 less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dental assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #35 of 142 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 | Raleigh, NC | $58,750 | $47,550 | $48,443 |
| 4 | Asheville, NC | $56,680 | $45,970 | $47,634 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $61,240 | $48,434 | $47,551 |
| 6 | Lansing, MI | $56,150 | $45,161 | $47,542 |
| 7 | Manchester, NH | $59,700 | $50,149 | $47,464 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $62,040 | $52,029 | $46,817 |
| 35 | Durham, NC | $51,670 | $42,144 | $43,193 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 142 metros →
Dental Assistant salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $58,750
- Asheville, NC — $56,680
- Winston, NC — $50,060
- Fayetteville, NC — $49,520
- Greensboro, NC — $49,800
- Wilmington, NC — $51,110
- Charlotte, NC — $50,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in Durham, NC?
The median dental assistant salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $51,670 a year, or about $24.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,390 and $59,180.
What is a dental assistant’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $51,670 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $42,144 a year ($3,512 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,553 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $48,070. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,193 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #35 of 142 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental assistant afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median dental assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Medical Assistant — $46,450
- Nursing Assistant — $40,560
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $37,980
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $33,630