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Dental Assistant - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Dental Assistant"
How much does a Dental Assistant in the federal government get paid? $48,459.10* *Based on the 2021 average.Dental Assistant was the 104th most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 2,188 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Dental Assistant, with an average salary of $49,741.
Government Dental Assistant jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Dental Assistant job is GS-1, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-9. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation includes positions the duties of which are to receive and prepare patients for dental treatment; to prepare materials and equipment for use by the dentist; to assist a dentist at chairside or bedside in the treatment of patients; to perform reversible intra-oral procedures under the supervision of the dentist; to perform dental radiography work; and to keep records of appointments, examinations, treatments and supplies. This work requires a practical knowledge of standardized procedures and methods used in dentistry, and skill in the techniques and procedures of dental assistance.
Agencies that have hired a Dental Assistant
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 1,722 | $49,741.35 |
| Indian Health Service | 410 | $43,005.02 |
| Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System | 25 | $52,825.32 |
| Office Secretary Health and Human Services | 22 | $45,060.36 |
| Immigration and Customs Enforcement | 7 | $0.00 |
| Armed Forces Retirement Home | 1 | $43,683.00 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | 1 | $49,551.00 |
Dental Assistant Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Dental Assistant is $48,459.10. The highest paid Dental Assistant made $82,746 in 2021.
Common Dental Assistant Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Dental Assistant Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 2,163 |
| GL - Gs Employees In Grades 3 Through 10 Paid A Law Enforcement Officer Special Base Rate | 25 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $20,999.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-1, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $63,734.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-9, Step 10 |
| Category: | Technical and Medical Support |
| Occupation Family: | 0600 MEDICAL, HOSPITAL, DENTAL, AND PUBLIC HEALTH GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-1 Paygrade
GS-1 is the starting paygrade for Dental Assistant jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-1 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronics Technical | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Secretary | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Meteorological Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Library Technician | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Biological Science Technician | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Dental Assistant Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Dental Assistant was $32,702. Since then, the average pay has increased to $48,459 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0681.