Dental Assistant Salary in Los Angeles, CA | Pay Insights

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

How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Los Angeles?

The average dental assistant salary in Los Angeles is $47,960, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of December 10, 2025. This salary translates to a $23.06 hourly mean wage in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area.

While data varies across job postings in the area, an entry-level dental assistant in Los Angeles may earn around $39,520, with more experienced assistants earning around $62,000 at the upper range of the scale.

Factors Influencing Pay

Factors that influence a dental assistant’s pay may include level of experience, additional certifications, work setting, and location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Dental assistants with advanced certifications, registered dental assistant status, and experience in the field are likely to earn more than professionals newly starting out.

Work setting and location also influence earning potential, as assistants who work in a specialty practice, in federal or state clinics, or in a larger dental support organization often earn more than their peers. Location may also play a role, as assistants in Altadena may earn more than assistants in South Los Angeles, for example, due to demand and cost-of-living differences.

How Does Toothio Compare?

Los Angeles dental assistants who pick up shifts through Toothio earn an average of $25.90 an hour, with top earners earning about $29.79.* For dental assistants who work 40 hours a week, this would equate to about $61,963 annually. These figures are based on the average earnings of dental assistants who pick up shifts on the Toothio platform in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area.

Dental Assistant Career Outlook

Dental assistants are in high demand nationwide, with a 6% projected growth in job outlook. The dental assistant career outlook is especially strong in Los Angeles, a market that employs the second-highest number of dental assistants in the country, and requires a steady stream of qualified professionals to keep up with demand for dental services.

Assistants can improve their job outlook and earning potential by engaging in continuing education and professional development, seeking additional certifications, and working in specialized settings. Dental assistants can also advance their careers and pursue additional opportunities by expanding into dental hygiene and administrative roles.

Toothio helps dental assistants improve their career prospects by connecting seasoned dental professionals with high-quality work opportunities at respected dental practices. Professionals can explore both permanent and temporary work opportunities that fit their schedules 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.