What is the best state to be a dental assistants?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a dental assistants: a BLS median of $57,770 is worth $64,940 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 132.3 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Minnesota has the highest headline BLS median for a dental assistants at $65,270, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 50 on real pay (index 128.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a dental assistants salary go least far?

Utah ranks last of 50 states for a dental assistants: a $37,760 BLS median is worth only $36,456 after tax and cost of living (index 74.2). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Dental Assistants

Best States to Be a Dental Assistants

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a dental assistants salary goes furthest in North Dakota — a $57,770 BLS median worth $64,940 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 132.3).

Which US states are best for a dental assistants after cost of living and tax?

For a dental assistants, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks North Dakota #1: a $57,770 BLS median becomes $64,940 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 132.3). Utah ranks last ($36,456, index 74.2). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

North Dakota ranks #1 of 50 states for a dental assistants. Index 100 = the average state; 132.3 means pay goes 32.3% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

132.3

Dental Assistants — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	North Dakota	$57,770	—	89.0	$64,940	132.3
2	Minnesota	$65,270	$2,949	98.6	$63,192	128.7
3	Maine	$60,070	$2,440	97.0	$59,382	120.9
4	New Hampshire	$59,530	—	104.2	$57,150	116.4
5	Alaska	$57,710	—	102.4	$56,380	114.8
6	Washington	$58,090	—	107.0	$54,283	110.5
7	South Dakota	$47,900	—	88.6	$54,072	110.1
8	Oregon	$59,490	$4,401	103.4	$53,297	108.5
9	Connecticut	$56,850	$1,633	103.6	$53,293	108.5
10	Iowa	$48,430	$1,800	87.8	$53,132	108.2
11	District of Columbia	$60,580	$2,563	109.9	$52,791	107.5
12	Vermont	$52,760	$1,349	98.0	$52,483	106.9
13	Massachusetts	$57,980	$2,679	105.8	$52,291	106.5
14	North Carolina	$50,380	$1,599	94.3	$51,715	105.3
15	Ohio	$47,970	$537	92.8	$51,128	104.1
16	Kentucky	$47,730	$1,778	90.2	$50,967	103.8
17	Tennessee	$46,720	—	91.9	$50,854	103.6
18	Indiana	$48,670	$1,430	93.3	$50,617	103.1
19	Nebraska	$46,660	$1,332	90.1	$50,307	102.5
20	Oklahoma	$45,740	$1,635	87.8	$50,209	102.3
21	Missouri	$45,970	$1,280	90.8	$49,209	100.2
22	South Carolina	$47,320	$1,326	93.7	$49,060	99.9
23	Wisconsin	$47,520	$1,366	94.1	$49,050	99.9
24	Louisiana	$44,090	$948	88.2	$48,910	99.6
25	Michigan	$48,820	$1,828	96.2	$48,839	99.5
26	Wyoming	$44,990	—	92.7	$48,538	98.8
27	Arizona	$49,000	$750	100.7	$47,926	97.6
28	Rhode Island	$50,150	$1,281	102.3	$47,780	97.3
29	Pennsylvania	$47,930	$1,471	97.6	$47,615	97.0
30	Montana	$46,680	$1,616	94.6	$47,614	97.0
31	Arkansas	$42,830	$1,462	86.9	$47,584	96.9
32	Nevada	$47,110	—	100.0	$47,120	96.0
33	New Mexico	$44,400	$989	92.2	$47,077	95.9
34	Texas	$45,430	—	97.1	$46,808	95.3
35	Georgia	$46,840	$1,878	96.3	$46,693	95.1
36	Idaho	$45,880	$1,492	95.5	$46,482	94.7
37	Illinois	$48,610	$2,265	100.0	$46,364	94.4
38	Florida	$47,620	—	103.4	$46,048	93.8
39	Delaware	$47,600	$1,965	99.8	$45,723	93.1
40	Colorado	$48,340	$1,467	103.1	$45,485	92.6
41	Maryland	$48,620	$1,977	105.0	$44,440	90.5
42	New Jersey	$49,390	$1,181	108.8	$44,308	90.2
43	Virginia	$46,670	$1,884	101.1	$44,297	90.2
44	California	$50,110	$1,103	110.7	$44,262	90.1
45	Mississippi	$39,160	$918	87.0	$43,980	89.6
46	New York	$48,110	$2,041	107.9	$42,688	86.9
47	Alabama	$39,080	$1,689	88.8	$42,096	85.7
48	West Virginia	$37,960	$1,031	89.5	$41,263	84.0
49	Hawaii	$44,720	$1,904	110.0	$38,941	79.3
50	Utah	$37,760	$1,718	98.9	$36,456	74.2

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In North Dakota, a $57,770 salary is worth about $63,317 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $1,444 (≈ top marginal 2.50% (upper bound)) · take-home $56,326 · BEA cost of living 89.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $65,213, a $1,897 gain over North Dakota.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$65,213	88.6
2	Arkansas	$63,859	86.9
3	Louisiana	$63,529	88.2
4	Mississippi	$63,515	87.0
5	Iowa	$63,324	87.8
6	North Dakota	$63,317	89.0
7	Tennessee	$62,882	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$62,641	87.8
9	Wyoming	$62,325	92.7
10	Alabama	$61,787	88.8
11	Kentucky	$61,513	90.2
12	West Virginia	$61,438	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Dental Assistants — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a dental assistants?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, North Dakota is the best state for a dental assistants: a BLS median of $57,770 is worth $64,940 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 89.0), an index of 132.3 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Minnesota has the highest headline BLS median for a dental assistants at $65,270, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 50 on real pay (index 128.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a dental assistants salary go least far?: Utah ranks last of 50 states for a dental assistants: a $37,760 BLS median is worth only $36,456 after tax and cost of living (index 74.2). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a dental assistants is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.