Dental Assistant Salary in Champaign, IL: $48,600 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental assistant in Champaign, IL earns a median $48,600/year (≈ $23.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9091). Once you factor in Champaign's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.7), that paycheck buys what $52,425 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% above the Illinois state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Champaign, Illinois, the projected median annual salary for dental assistants in 2026 is $48,600, representing a slight decrease compared to the national median of $49,579. This salary range encompasses a lower end at $38,255 (P10) and a higher end reaching up to $61,100 (P90). The competencies offered by expanded function dental auxiliaries (EFDAs) are particularly significant in this state. With the expanded functions that EFDAs provide, salaries for skilled dental assistants can exceed those of their peers in other states with more restrictive regulations. Data from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, which inform these projections, suggest that the local job market remains stable, reflecting both the demand for dental services and the qualifications that prospective dental assistants bring to the workplace.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38,255 | $18.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43,907 | $21.11 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $48,600 | $23.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $58,326 | $28.04 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $61,100 | $29.37 |
Median Salary Position
1.97% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Champaign
In Champaign, IL, the dental assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $22,845 (2026 est.). At $48,600, the local median is 1.97% below the national median of $49,579.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Champaign: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Champaign Dental Assistant Pay Compares
Champaign median: $48,600/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Champaign Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $48,214 | +0.80% more |
| National Average | $49,579 | -1.97% less |
Dental Assistants in Champaign, IL earn a median of $48,600 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.97% lower than the national median of $49,579 and 0.80% above the Illinois state average of $48,214.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Champaign has a cost of living 7.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Champaign, IL has a cost-of-living index of 92.704 (below the national average of 100). A dental assistant earning $48,600 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $52,425 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.87% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$38,760
2025 BLS Actual
$47,120
2026 Current Est.
$48,600
2019–2027 Growth
+29.3%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Champaign (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,760 | Actual |
| 2020 | $39,170 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,580 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,920 | Actual |
| 2023 | $39,590 | Actual |
| 2024 | $45,290 | Actual |
| 2025 | $47,120 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $48,600 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50,126 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Champaign metropolitan area, the median dental assistant salary grew 21.6% from $38,760 (2019) to $47,120 (2025). At a 3.14% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $50,126 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,366 (29.32%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Champaign 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $38,255 – $43,907 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $43,907 – $48,600 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $48,600 – $58,326 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $58,326 – $61,100 |
DA, CDA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Assistant Job Market in Champaign
Examining the local job market, there are around 180 dental assistants currently employed in Champaign, which underlines the healthy demand for dental services in the area. The cost-of-living index sits at 92.704, suggesting that purchasing power is relatively favorable compared to the national average, allowing dental assistants to maintain a comfortable lifestyle on their wages. Within this context, dental chains such as Heartland and Aspen are among the employers that often offer competitive pay rates, capitalizing on the secured DSO networks for streamlined hiring and standardized compensation. The variance in salaries also reflects the types of roles available—those in specialty practices such as oral surgery or orthodontics typically command higher pay than general dental roles. Maximizing earnings in this environment may require pursuing EFDA certification, seeking roles in higher-paying specialty offices, or exploring hybrid positions that combine treatment coordination with traditional dental assistant responsibilities.
More salary data for Champaign, IL:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $47,120 for dental assistantsin the Champaign metropolitan area. A 3.14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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