Dental Assistant Salary in Collierville, TN: $47,762 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental assistant in Collierville, TN earns a median $47,762/year (≈ $22.96/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9091). Once you factor in Collierville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $52,028 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% above the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Collierville, TN, the projected median annual salary for dental assistants in 2026 is $47,762, positioning it at roughly 3.66% below the national median of $49,579. Salaries here range from $35,905 at the lower end (P10) to $59,532 at the higher end (P90), reflecting the competitive landscape of the dental field. Local estimates, derived from 2025 BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional price parities, illuminate the unique pay dynamics influenced by the area's demand for specialized dental services. As the job market continues to develop, particularly in oral surgery and orthodontics, dental assistants in Collierville can anticipate evolving opportunities based on specialists' higher compensation.
About the Collierville Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($40,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $35,905 | $17.27 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43,104 | $20.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $47,762 | $22.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $57,583 | $27.68 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $59,532 | $28.62 |
Median Salary Position
3.66% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Collierville
In Collierville, TN, the dental assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,627 (2026 est.). At $47,762, the local median is 3.66% below the national median of $49,579.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Collierville: You'd be above the median
How Collierville Dental Assistant Pay Compares
Collierville median: $47,762/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Collierville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $47,667 | +0.20% more |
| National Average | $49,579 | -3.66% less |
Dental Assistants in Collierville, TN earn a median of $47,762 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.66% lower than the national median of $49,579 and 0.20% above the Tennessee state average of $47,667.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Collierville has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Collierville, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A dental assistant earning $47,762 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $52,028 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$38,611
2025 BLS Actual
$46,308
2026 Current Est.
$47,762
2019–2027 Growth
+27.6%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Collierville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,611 | Actual |
| 2020 | $39,671 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,243 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,177 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,834 | Actual |
| 2024 | $36,802 | Actual |
| 2025 | $46,308 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $47,762 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $49,262 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Collierville metropolitan area, the median dental assistant salary grew 19.9% from $38,611 (2019) to $46,308 (2025). At a 3.14% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $49,262 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,651 (27.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Collierville 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) | $35,905 – $43,104 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $43,104 – $47,762 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $47,762 – $57,583 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $57,583 – $59,532 |
DA, CDA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Assistant Job Market in Collierville
The local job market features only eight dental assistants, indicating a niche yet dedicated workforce in Collierville. The cost-of-living index at 91.8 suggests that lower living costs may enhance purchasing power compared to national standards, allowing assistants to stretch their salaries further. Among the available employment opportunities, practices specializing in oral surgery, orthodontics, and pediatric dentistry tend to offer the most competitive compensation packages. Factors influencing the salary scale include the type of practice, the assistant's specialized credentials like EFDA or treatment coordination experiences, and the emergence of DSO chains which often standardize pay across their locations. To maximize dental assistant pay in Collierville, one effective strategy is to pursue additional certifications through DANB, as credentialed assistants can unlock significant wage increases.
More salary data for Collierville, TN:
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 $46,308 for dental assistantsin the Collierville 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
Salary data for Collierville 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