Dental Assistant Salary in Shreveport, LA: $40,173 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental assistant in Shreveport, LA earns a median $40,173/year (≈ $19.32/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9091). Once you factor in Shreveport's price level (15% below national, BEA RPP 84.8), that paycheck buys what $47,393 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.5% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, dental assistants in Shreveport, Louisiana, can expect a median annual salary of $40,173, positioning them significantly below the national median of $49,579 and highlighting a difference of nearly 19%. The local salary range spans from $32,180 at the 10th percentile to $49,817 at the 90th percentile, indicating potential for higher earnings particularly within specialty practices such as oral surgery and orthodontics, which typically pay more due to the additional skills required. Data from 2025 BLS OEWS projections suggests that this pay landscape is influenced by the type of employer and the relative demand for skilled dental assistants as the market continues to adapt to the changing dynamics of the dental field in Shreveport.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37,605 | $18.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $40,173 | $19.32 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $47,991 | $23.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49,817 | $23.95 |
Median Salary Position
18.97% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Shreveport
In Shreveport, LA, the dental assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,637 (2026 est.). At $40,173, the local median is 18.97% below the national median of $49,579.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Shreveport: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Shreveport Dental Assistant Pay Compares
Shreveport median: $40,173/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Shreveport Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $45,393 | -11.50% less |
| National Average | $49,579 | -18.97% less |
Dental Assistants in Shreveport, LA earn a median of $40,173 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.97% lower than the national median of $49,579 and 11.50% below the Louisiana state average of $45,393.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Shreveport has a cost of living 15.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Shreveport, LA has a cost-of-living index of 84.766 (below the national average of 100). A dental assistant earning $40,173 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $47,393 in an average-cost city — an effective 17.97% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$32,890
2025 BLS Actual
$38,950
2026 Current Est.
$40,173
2019–2027 Growth
+26.0%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Shreveport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32,890 | Actual |
| 2020 | $31,830 | Actual |
| 2021 | $29,190 | Actual |
| 2022 | $34,310 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,610 | Actual |
| 2024 | $37,270 | Actual |
| 2025 | $38,950 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $40,173 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41,434 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Shreveport metropolitan area, the median dental assistant salary grew 18.4% from $32,890 (2019) to $38,950 (2025). At a 3.14% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $41,434 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,544 (25.98%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Shreveport 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) | $32,180 – $37,605 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $37,605 – $40,173 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $40,173 – $47,991 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $47,991 – $49,817 |
DA, CDA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Assistant Job Market in Shreveport
As of now, approximately 410 dental assistants are employed in the Shreveport area, which contributes to a competitive job market. The area's cost of living index of 84.766 means that while salaries may seem lower compared to the national average, the purchasing power is more favorable for local residents. Employers that tend to offer the highest dental assistant pay in Shreveport include oral surgery practices and orthodontic offices, often due to the specialized skills and training necessary in those environments. Factors such as holding an EFDA credential or taking on hybrid roles like treatment coordinator can further drive earnings. DSO chains like Heartland and Aspen have introduced a structured pay scale that can impact salary ranges, inviting entry-level dental assistants to maximize their income potential within this evolving market. Understanding local employment trends and seeking further certifications can be essential strategies for optimizing dental assistant pay in Shreveport, LA.
More salary data for Shreveport, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can dental assistants make $100K in Shreveport?
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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 $38,950 for dental assistantsin the Shreveport 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