How much do dental assistants make in Arkansas?
What dental assistants earn in Arkansas and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
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Median pay in Arkansas
$42,830
a year, or $20.59 an hour. That is 11% less than the national median of $48,070.
The middle half of dental assistants in Arkansas earn $36,790 to $46,730.
Pay range in Arkansas
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $35,060
- 25th percentile
- $36,790
- Median
- $42,830
- 75th percentile
- $46,730
- Top 10% earn over
- $48,330
Rank among states
#45 of 49
Arkansas pays dental assistants more than 4 of the other 48 states. Highest: Minnesota ($65,270).
Jobs in Arkansas
2,950
2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 0.91× the U.S. concentration.
Dental Assistant pay in Arkansas cities
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $23.17 | 1,200 | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $21.70 | 920 | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $22.62 | 680 | |
| North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $18.19 | 320 | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $17.87 | 220 | |
| Jonesboro, AR | $17.65 | 170 | |
| West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $17.82 | 170 | |
| South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $18.07 | 160 | |
| East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $19.13 | 140 | |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $18.36 | 120 | |
| Hot Springs, AR | $18.00 | 100 |
States with similar dental assistant pay
Other healthcare salaries in Arkansas
Registered Nurses
$78,940
median a year · 29,400 jobs
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
$27,660
median a year · 19,840 jobs
Nursing Assistants
$34,430
median a year · 17,260 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$56,620
median a year · 10,010 jobs
Medical Assistants
$37,760
median a year · 5,150 jobs
Pharmacy Technicians
$38,680
median a year · 4,560 jobs
Physicians, All Other
$136,880
median a year · 4,290 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
$125,660
median a year · 3,970 jobs
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
$49,670
median a year · 3,180 jobs
Pharmacists
$136,060
median a year · 2,900 jobs
Physical Therapists
$99,010
median a year · 2,680 jobs
Speech-Language Pathologists
$83,580
median a year · 2,430 jobs
Questions about dental assistant pay in Arkansas
How much does a dental assistant make in Arkansas?
Dental Assistants in Arkansas earned a median of $42,830 a year ($20.59 an hour) in May 2025, 11% less than the national median of $48,070. The middle half earned $36,790 to $46,730.
Where in Arkansas do dental assistants earn the most?
Among areas in Arkansas, pay was highest in Memphis, TN-MS-AR at $48,200.
How does Arkansas rank for dental assistant pay?
Arkansas ranks #45 of 49 states for dental assistants pay. Minnesota pays the most, at $65,270 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
How many dental assistants work in Arkansas?
About 2,950 people worked as dental assistants in Arkansas in May 2025, or 2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
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Arkansas shortage areas
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.