Dental Assistant Salary in Fond du Lac, WI: $51,023 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental assistant in Fond du Lac, WI earns a median $51,023/year (≈ $24.54/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9091). Once you factor in Fond du Lac's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.6), that paycheck buys what $55,676 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.7% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fond du Lac, WI, the projected median salary for dental assistants in 2026 is estimated at $51,023, slightly above the national median of $49,579. Salaries vary significantly, with a full range from $42,731 at the 10th percentile to $60,533 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the dynamics of employment in both dental service organizations (DSOs) and independent practices. While DSO chains such as Heartland and Aspen typically offer structured pay scales, some dental assistants in solo practices may find more flexibility and opportunities for negotiating higher wages. This variability suggests that dental assistants in Fond du Lac must consider their practice’s structure when evaluating potential earnings in their career.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,731 | $20.55 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,527 | $22.86 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $51,023 | $24.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,130 | $28.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $60,533 | $29.11 |
Median Salary Position
2.91% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fond du Lac
In Fond du Lac, WI, the dental assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,802 (2026 est.). At $51,023, the local median is 2.91% above the national median of $49,579.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fond du Lac: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fond du Lac Dental Assistant Pay Compares
Fond du Lac median: $51,023/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fond du Lac Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $48,733 | +4.70% more |
| National Average | $49,579 | +2.91% more |
Dental Assistants in Fond du Lac, WI earn a median of $51,023 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.91% higher than the national median of $49,579 and 4.70% above the Wisconsin state average of $48,733.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fond du Lac has a cost of living 8.36% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fond du Lac, WI has a cost-of-living index of 91.643 (below the national average of 100). A dental assistant earning $51,023 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $55,676 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.12% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$41,620
2025 BLS Actual
$49,470
2026 Current Est.
$51,023
2019–2027 Growth
+26.4%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Assistants in Fond du Lac (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.14% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $41,620 | Actual |
| 2020 | $45,650 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,120 | Actual |
| 2022 | $44,030 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,130 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,070 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,470 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $51,023 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,625 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fond du Lac metropolitan area, the median dental assistant salary grew 18.9% from $41,620 (2019) to $49,470 (2025). At a 3.14% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $52,625 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,005 (26.44%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fond du Lac 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) | $42,731 – $47,527 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,527 – $51,023 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $51,023 – $59,130 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,130 – $60,533 |
DA, CDA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Assistant Job Market in Fond du Lac
With 130 dental assistants currently employed in the Fond du Lac area, the local job market shows promise, but the cost of living, as indicated by an index of 91.643, presents a factor that influences take-home pay and overall purchasing power. Among local employers, general dental practices may pay differently compared to orthodontic or oral surgery offices, where higher specialty skills often command better compensation. The spread in salaries can be attributed to various factors, including whether a dental assistant has expanded function authority (EFDA), their role in treatment coordination, and whether they work in a DSO with tiered pay scales. To enhance earning potential in Fond du Lac, dental assistants should pursue relevant certifications such as DANB and explore roles that combine clinical and administrative responsibilities. Building experience in high-demand specialties can also be a lucrative avenue for those looking to increase their dental assistant pay in Fond du Lac, WI.
More salary data for Fond du Lac, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dental assistants make in Fond du Lac, WI in 2026?
Is Fond du Lac, WI a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Can dental assistants make $100K in Fond du Lac?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted dental assistant salary in Fond du Lac?
How much does a dental assistant make per hour in Fond du Lac?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Wisconsin
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 $49,470 for dental assistantsin the Fond du Lac 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