There are currently an estimated 332,000 dental assistants in the United States. The dental assistant job market is expected to grow by 19.5% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are dental assistants?

CareerExplorer rates dental assistants with an A- employability rating, meaning this career should provide great employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 70,300 dental assistants. That number is based on 64,600 additional dental assistants, and the retirement of 5,700 existing dental assistants.

What’s the supply of dental assistants?

The dental assistant industry is concentrated in California, Texas, New York

Dental Assistant job market by state

State Name Employed Dental Assistants
California 50,100
Texas 29,790
New York 20,370
Florida 19,040
Illinois 12,710
Pennsylvania 10,930
New Jersey 10,770
Ohio 10,670
Washington 10,580
Georgia 9,900
Michigan 9,550
North Carolina 8,960
Massachusetts 8,380
Virginia 8,020
Colorado 7,080
Arizona 7,030
Indiana 6,150
Maryland 5,870
Wisconsin 5,860
Tennessee 5,800
Minnesota 5,630
Missouri 5,530
Oregon 5,480
Utah 5,220
South Carolina 4,400
Kentucky 4,320
Louisiana 4,310
Connecticut 4,030
Oklahoma 3,930
Alabama 3,270
Iowa 2,960
Kansas 2,860
Arkansas 2,750
New Mexico 2,740
Nevada 2,650
Puerto Rico 2,390
Mississippi 2,240
Idaho 2,210
Nebraska 2,130
Hawaii 1,590
Montana 1,340
New Hampshire 1,310
Alaska 1,300
West Virginia 1,230
Maine 1,190
South Dakota 930
Rhode Island 860
Delaware 810
North Dakota 730
Wyoming 640
District of Columbia 640
Vermont 390
Guam 160
Virgin Islands, U.S. 40