Dental Assistant Salary in Austin, TX | Pay Insights

Explore the average dental assistant salary in Austin, including key factors that affect pay and local career opportunities.

How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Austin?

The average dental assistant salary in Austin is $49,580, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of December 10, 2025. This salary corresponds to an hourly mean wage of $23.84 in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area, the highest wage for dental assistants in the state of Texas.

Data varies depending on job postings, but typically, entry-level dental assistants in and around Austin earn around $36,400, while experienced assistants earn around $56,200 at the higher end of the scale.

Factors Influencing Pay

Factors that may influence a dental assistant’s pay include experience, professional credentials, work setting, and location within the Austin area. Assistants with advanced credentials, registered dental assistant status, the ability to speak multiple languages, and experience working in various practices will generally earn more than an assistant who is just starting out in the field.

Pay varies by work setting; assistants in federal or state clinics, specialty practices, or large dental service organizations typically have a higher earning potential than their peers. Location can also be a key factor, as an assistant in West Austin may earn more than one in North Austin, for example, due to demand and cost-of-living differences.

How Does Toothio Compare?

Dental assistants who pick up shifts on Toothio earn an average hourly wage of $21.08 in Texas, with rates as high as $24.24.* For assistants who work 40 hours a week, this translates to an annual salary of about $50,419. These figures are based on the average earnings of professionals who pick up dental assistant shifts on the Toothio platform in Texas.

Dental Assistant Career Outlook

Nationwide, the career outlook for dental assistants is high, with a 6% projected job growth in the field. There are nearly 3,000 assistants in Greater Austin, which places it in the top 25 metropolitan areas in the country by employment of dental assistants. As the city grows, there is a need to continue filling these roles to meet the demand of the increasing population.

Dental assistants can expand their career prospects by pursuing continuing education and working across a variety of practices to learn new skills. Assistants may also choose to expand their career opportunities by advancing into dental hygiene or administrative roles.

Toothio empowers dental assistants to find opportunities in the Austin area by connecting dental professionals with high-quality work opportunities in reputable practices. Dental assistants can search through a variety of both temporary and permanent job roles to find shifts that fit their schedule and preferred rates.

Other Dental Assistant Salary Guides

View our dental assistant salary guides for other cities:

Sources:

“Annual Mean Wage of Dental Assistants, by Metropolitan Area, May 2024.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Maps, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data.bls.gov/oesmap/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.

“Dental Assistants.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.

*Based on the average data from 1099 contractors who pick up shifts on the Toothio platform.