Dental Assistant Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Dental Assistants in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $38,330 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,219 take-home, or $2,685 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental assistant salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,420
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,376
- Medicare (1.45%)$556
- Utah income tax$759
- Take-home pay$32,219
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Assistant pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,620 | $17.61 | $30,922 | $2,577 |
| 25th percentile | $37,340 | $17.95 | $31,468 | $2,622 |
| Median (50th) | $38,330 | $18.43 | $32,219 | $2,685 |
| 75th percentile | $47,450 | $22.81 | $39,137 | $3,261 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,440 | $23.29 | $39,888 | $3,324 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,330 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental assistant's $32,219 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,942 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Salt Lake City, UT has 1.2× the national concentration of dental assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dental assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #36 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 |
| 36 | Salt Lake City, UT | $38,330 | $32,219 | $31,942 |
*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 Salt Lake City, UT?
The median dental assistant salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $38,330 a year, or about $18.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,340 and $47,450.
What is a dental assistant’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $38,330 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $32,219 a year ($2,685 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $759 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $48,070. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,942 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #36 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental assistant afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median dental assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
- Medical Assistant — $46,080
- Nursing Assistant — $40,510
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,130