Dental Assistant Salary in St. Louis, MO
Dental Assistants in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $48,120 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,520 take-home, or $3,293 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental assistant salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,594
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,983
- Medicare (1.45%)$698
- Missouri income tax$1,324
- Take-home pay$39,520
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $481 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $39,039 ($3,253 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,780 | $18.16 | $31,698 | $2,641 |
| 25th percentile | $44,110 | $21.21 | $36,487 | $3,041 |
| Median (50th) | $48,120 | $23.13 | $39,520 | $3,293 |
| 75th percentile | $58,240 | $28.00 | $47,176 | $3,931 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,530 | $29.10 | $48,908 | $4,076 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,120 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental assistant's $39,520 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,562 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for dental assistants, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $48,120 | $39,520 | $41,562 |
*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.
Dental Assistant salaries elsewhere in Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $48,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in St. Louis, MO?
The median dental assistant salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $48,120 a year, or about $23.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,110 and $58,240.
What is a dental assistant’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $48,120 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $39,520 a year ($3,293 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,324 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $48,070. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,562 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #16 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental assistant afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median dental assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Medical Assistant — $44,710
- Nursing Assistant — $39,110
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,490