The number of dental assistant jobs in Michigan is projected to increase by 15.3% over the ten-year period ending in 2020, according to the state’s Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (MDTMB). Job growth is projected to be particularly high in two areas of Michigan. The projected increase is 26.1% in Ann Arbor and 25.5% in the northwest Lower Peninsula.
The 2013 average dental assistant salary in Michigan was $34,370 a year. Experienced dental assistants in the 90th percentile averaged $45,650 a year. Dental assistants in the 10th percentile are typically those entering the workforce. They averaged $24,620 a year.
The MDTMB provides information on dental assistant salaries in areas outside of Michigan’s metropolitan areas. The average Michigan dental assistant salary in these areas was highest in the northwest Lower Peninsula balance of state:
Michigan Area
10th percentile
Average
90th percentile
Northeast Lower Peninsula
$24460
$32070
$43410
Northwest Lower Peninsula
$27750
$36050
$45800
South Central Lower Peninsula $22710
$32730
$42170
Upper Peninsula
$24800
$33260
$46370
Nonmetropolitan areas can be excellent sources of dental assistant jobs in Michigan. The balance of the Lower Peninsula had the fifth highest employment level in the country of any nonmetropolitan area, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
SPONSORED LISTINGS
Featured Programs:
With ASU's Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences – Pre-Dental, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to pursue an advanced degree in dentistry or a career in a dental-related field.
Penn Foster's Dental Assistant career diploma program will teach you on-the-job skills like dental health procedures, office operations, dentistry terminology use, and more - so you can begin pursuing your career as a Dental Assistant.
In 2013, 48% of Michigan’s 9,330 dental assistants were employed in the southeastern portion of the state. The area with the second highest concentration of dental assistants was the Grand Rapids Area with 10.2%.
The BLS provides a detailed breakdown of 2013 dental assisting salary percentiles throughout metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Michigan:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Ann Arbor MI
390
18.52
38520
19.52
21.98
24.27
40600
45720
50490
Battle Creek MI
150
16.47
34260
16.42
20.10
21.81
34150
41800
45370
Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MI Metropolitan Division
1220
15.91
33090
15.44
17.91
23.18
32120
37250
48220
Detroit-Warren-Livonia MI
4060
15.98
33230
16.06
18.11
21.29
33400
37680
44280
Flint MI
440
16.64
34620
16.46
18.01
21.44
34230
37460
44600
Grand Rapids-Wyoming MI
800
17.91
37250
17.84
20.89
22.83
37110
43450
47490
Holland-Grand Haven MI
220
16.90
35150
16.87
18.51
21.24
35100
38500
44170
Jackson MI
120
17.58
36570
17.53
19.98
21.88
36450
41560
45500
Kalamazoo-Portage MI
250
16.76
34870
16.56
18.42
22.26
34440
38310
46290
Lansing-East Lansing MI
400
17.48
36360
17.89
20.42
22.08
37200
42480
45930
Monroe MI
80
16.61
34560
16.39
18.32
21.45
34100
38110
44630
Muskegon-Norton Shores MI
150
16.34
34000
16.02
18.72
21.52
33320
38930
44750
Niles-Benton Harbor MI
110
18.40
38260
17.91
21.36
24.22
37250
44440
50370
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North MI
230
15.19
31600
15.84
17.85
20.02
32950
37130
41640
South Bend-Mishawaka IN-MI
260
19.74
41050
17.68
22.09
31.80
36780
45940
66140
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills MI Metropolitan Division
2840
16.00
33290
16.27
18.18
20.92
33830
37820
43510
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area
280
15.99
33260
14.68
19.36
22.29
30520
40260
46370
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area
180
15.42
32070
15.12
18.05
20.87
31450
37530
43410
Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area
360
17.33
36050
17.08
19.33
22.02
35520
40210
45800
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area
500
15.74
32730
15.63
17.66
20.28
32510
36740
42170
