Dental Assistant Salary in Evansville, IN: $49,507 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental assistant in Evansville, IN earns a median $49,507/year (≈ $23.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9091). Once you factor in Evansville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $54,089 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% below the Indiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, dental assistants in Evansville, Indiana, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $49,507, slightly below the national figure of $49,579. The salary range spans from $35,429 at the 10th percentile to $58,594 at the 90th percentile, signaling opportunity for career advancement, particularly in specialized roles such as oral surgery and orthodontics. This data is derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, highlighting a competitive market for dental assistants in the region. As specialized care continues to grow, those in Evansville can expect to see increased demand and potentially higher compensation, particularly for positions within specialty practices.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $35,429 | $17.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,691 | $22.44 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $49,507 | $23.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $53,365 | $25.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $58,594 | $28.17 |
Median Salary Position
0.15% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Evansville
In Evansville, IN, the dental assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,165 (2026 est.). At $49,507, the local median is 0.15% below the national median of $49,579.
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At 40 hours/week in Evansville: You'd be above the median
How Evansville Dental Assistant Pay Compares
Evansville median: $49,507/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Evansville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Average | $49,756 | -0.50% less |
| National Average | $49,579 | -0.15% less |
Dental Assistants in Evansville, IN earn a median of $49,507 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.15% lower than the national median of $49,579 and 0.50% below the Indiana state average of $49,756.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Evansville has a cost of living 8.47% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Evansville, IN has a cost-of-living index of 91.528 (below the national average of 100). A dental assistant earning $49,507 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $54,089 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.26% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$38,130
2025 BLS Actual
$48,000
2026 Current Est.
$49,507
2019–2027 Growth
+33.9%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Evansville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,130 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,500 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $40,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $46,070 | Actual |
| 2024 | $46,940 | Actual |
| 2025 | $48,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $49,507 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $51,062 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Evansville metropolitan area, the median dental assistant salary grew 25.9% from $38,130 (2019) to $48,000 (2025). At a 3.14% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,062 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,932 (33.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Evansville 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) | $35,429 – $46,691 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,691 – $49,507 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $49,507 – $53,365 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $53,365 – $58,594 |
DA, CDA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Assistant Job Market in Evansville
With approximately 300 dental assistants employed in Evansville, the local job market is bolstered by the presence of various employer types, including general dental practices, pediatric offices, and oral surgery clinics. The cost-of-living index of 91.528 suggests that, while salaries are slightly lower than the national average, the purchasing power for residents remains relatively strong. Among employers, those in oral surgery and orthodontic practices typically offer the highest wages, benefiting from a larger patient volume and specialized procedures. Factors influencing salary disparities include the type of practice, the presence of certifications such as EFDA, and the growth of dental service organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen. Maximizing earning potential in Evansville may involve pursuing expanded function opportunities, taking on hybrid roles as treatment coordinators, or seeking mentorship positions within dental teams to enhance skill sets and increase pay.
More salary data for Evansville, IN:
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 $48,000 for dental assistantsin the Evansville 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