Dental Assistant Hourly Pay in Leland, NC: $22.99 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a dental assistant working in Leland, NC runs $22.99 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $47,821 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9091). Weighted against Leland's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $24.56 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $28,691 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Leland, North Carolina, dental assistants can expect a median hourly rate of $22.99, which is slightly below the national median of $23.84. This rate provides a decent standard for those in part-time roles, such as working three days a week, or for per-diem positions that often fill in critical gaps in various dental practice settings. The hourly pay can range from $19.48 at the lower spectrum for entry-level positions to $28.11 for highly experienced professionals. Such settings include general dentistry operatories, pediatric clinics, orthodontic practices, oral surgery rooms, and even dental school student clinics, where hourly rates are estimated from projected annual salary data.
About the Leland Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($42,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Dental Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.48 | $155.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.12 | $176.99 |
| Median (P50) | $22.99 | $183.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $27.56 | $220.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $28.11 | $224.85 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Leland
Based on $22.99/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $22.99/hr, a dental assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Leland, NC can expect to earn approximately $47,819 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $27,588. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Leland.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Leland
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $919.60 | $3,985 | $47,819 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $551.76 | $2,391 | $28,691 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $367.84 | $1,594 | $19,128 |
Compare DA, CDA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Dental Assistant (Leland) | $22.99 |
| Dental Hygienist (National Avg) | $42.45 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.14 |
| Pharmacy Technician (National Avg) | $19.27 |
| Phlebotomist (National Avg) | $20.36 |
Dental Assistants in Leland, NC earn a median of $47,821 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.55% lower than the national median of $49,579 and 7.10% below the North Carolina state average of $51,476.
Dental Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $22.99/hr = $28,691/year (purchasing power: $30,653).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $47,819/year (purchasing power: $51,089).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.59/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$22.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$22.99/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Leland (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.59/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $19.10/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.93/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $20.78/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.58/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $17.55/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $22.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $22.99/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $23.71/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for dental assistants in Leland grew 19.9% from $18.59/hr (2019) to $22.29/hr (2025). At a 3.14% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $23.71/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem dental assistants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Leland metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.14% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Dental Assistant in Leland
Earnings for part-time dental assistants in Leland working a standard 24-hour week can accumulate to around $28,670 annually, compared to full-time counterparts who might expect roughly $47,821. For those considering per-diem work, rates generally range from $22 to $35 per hour, with specialized roles in oral surgery or orthodontics commanding $28 to $45 per hour. Hourly compensation varies across employer types, with general practices, pediatric offices, and specialty clinics like oral surgery and periodontal practices offering different pay scales. This variability often leads dental assistants to weigh the advantages of lower hourly wages with benefits against the flexibility and potentially higher pay without benefits. Negotiating rates can be advantageous, especially within the evolving landscape of dental support roles in Leland, where chain practices set standardized pay but still allow room for individual negotiation, particularly for highly skilled assistants.
More salary data for Leland, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gonzalez, CDA, RDH
Career Analyst
Maria Gonzalez has over 10 years of experience in dental assisting. She specializes in pediatric dentistry. She works in a private dental practice.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for dental assistants in Leland. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Leland is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.14%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental assistants (SOC 31-9091).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, CDA, RDH, a licensed dental assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov