U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Health and Human Services / Dental Assistant

Job-title file

Dental Assistant

Diagnose and treat patients, direct clinical care, and supervise other medical staff.

384 employees hold this title in Department of Health and Human Services. Median total compensation for the role is $50,127, below the department median of $129,759.

Employees: 384
Total payroll: $19.1M
Role median: $50,127
Agency median: $129,759
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$34,803$66,702+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 384 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Dental Assistant pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Dental Assistants — about 387,790 people — is $48,070. Department of Health and Human Services pays a median base salary of $50,127 for this role, 4% above that figure — about the 55th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Health and Human Services sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$37,130

$44,340

$48,070

$58,090

$62,250

Department of Health and Human Services median · $50,127

The bar is the range of annual wages for Dental Assistants across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Health and Human Services’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 383 of 384 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Health and Human Services is $50,127, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Dental Assistant is held in 4 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Health and Human Services, the median of $50,127 ranks #3 of 4.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Homeland Security

$60,406 · 1

Department of Veterans Affairs

$57,191 · 1,922

Armed Forces Retirement Home

$49,025 · 1

Median total compensation for the Dental Assistant role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Dental Assistant beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 12 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $55,883 ranks #5 of 12. See Dental Assistant across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$97,088 · 41

$64,736 · 30

$64,500 · 11

$59,185 · 45

$51,118 · 43

$44,393 · 16

$43,798 · 24

$39,350 · 102

Median total compensation for comparable Dental Assistantroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Taylor Lafontaine

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$36,398

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $36,398
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,398
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Belcourt
Work county: Rolette
Work state: North Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $36,398
Basic Pay (before locality): $27,874
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 380265079
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Taylor Lafontaine serves as a Dental Assistant based in Belcourt, North Dakota. Their 2024 pay totaled $36,398. They are classified at grade 03.

May Lafontaine

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$36,398

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $36,398
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,398
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Belcourt
Work county: Rolette
Work state: North Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $36,398
Basic Pay (before locality): $27,874
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 380265079
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

May Lafontaine is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Belcourt, North Dakota. 2024 total compensation came to $36,398. They are classified at grade 03.

Arlene Spottedwolf

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$36,398

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $36,398
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,398
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Lawrence
Work county: Douglas
Work state: Kansas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $36,398
Basic Pay (before locality): $27,874
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 203010045
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Arlene Spottedwolf holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Lawrence, Kansas. In 2024, their total compensation was $36,398. Their pay grade is 03.

Loriann Briggs

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$36,209

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $36,209
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,209
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Fort Hall
Work county: Bingham
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $36,209
Basic Pay (before locality): $30,280
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160535011
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Loriann Briggs works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Fort Hall, Idaho. Loriann earned $36,209 in 2024. Their pay grade is 04.

Raven Calladitto

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$36,209

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $36,209
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $36,209
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Crownpoint
Work county: Mckinley
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $36,209
Basic Pay (before locality): $30,280
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350215031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Raven Calladitto works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Raven earned $36,209 in 2024. Their pay grade is 04.

Stephen Dixon

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,601

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,601
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,601
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Lawton
Work county: Comanche
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,601
Basic Pay (before locality): $25,310
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 402750031
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Stephen Dixon holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Lawton, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $35,601. Their pay grade is 02.

Timothy Garcia

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,601

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,601
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,601
Pay grade: 02
Work city: White Earth
Work county: Becker
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,601
Basic Pay (before locality): $25,310
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 277555005
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Timothy Garcia is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in White Earth, Minnesota. 2024 total compensation came to $35,601. They are classified at grade 02.

Fern Shelton

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,601

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,601
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,601
Pay grade: 02
Work city: El Reno
Work county: Canadian
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,601
Basic Pay (before locality): $25,310
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 401540017
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Fern Shelton holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in El Reno, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $35,601. Their pay grade is 02.

Mckynah Anderson

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: El Reno
Work county: Canadian
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 401540017
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mckynah Anderson holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in El Reno, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $35,499. Their pay grade is 03.

Kylee Burns

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Crow Agency
Work county: Big Horn
Work state: Montana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 300285003
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kylee Burns works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Crow Agency, Montana. Kylee earned $35,499 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Rylan Goss

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Browning
Work county: Glacier
Work state: Montana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 300170035
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Rylan Goss serves as a Dental Assistant based in Browning, Montana. Their 2024 pay totaled $35,499. They are classified at grade 03.

Rayna Grimes

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Rosebud
Work county: Todd
Work state: South Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 462335121
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rayna Grimes works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Rosebud, South Dakota. Rayna earned $35,499 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Leona Keesie

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: El Reno
Work county: Canadian
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 401540017
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Leona Keesie is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in El Reno, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $35,499. They are classified at grade 03.

Joshua Sullivan

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Lawton
Work county: Comanche
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 402750031
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Joshua Sullivan works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Lawton, Oklahoma. Joshua earned $35,499 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Arabella Zephier

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,499
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Wagner
Work county: Charles Mix
Work state: South Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $26,975
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 462800023
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Arabella Zephier serves as a Dental Assistant based in Wagner, South Dakota. Their 2024 pay totaled $35,499. They are classified at grade 03.

Tianja Clark

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,373

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $35,373
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,373
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Whiteriver
Work county: Navajo
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $35,373
Basic Pay (before locality): $30,280
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040565017
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tianja Clark holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Whiteriver, Arizona. In 2024, their total compensation was $35,373. Their pay grade is 04.

Ilyssa Barrera

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$35,303

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $35,303
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Rosebud
Work county: Todd
Work state: South Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 462335121
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ilyssa Barrera holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Rosebud, South Dakota. In 2024, their total compensation was $35,303. Their pay grade is 02.

Dakota Osborne

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Fort Hall
Work county: Bingham
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160535011
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Dakota Osborne serves as a Dental Assistant based in Fort Hall, Idaho. Their 2024 pay totaled $34,803. They are classified at grade 02.

Lasheena Scott

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Inscription House
Work county: Coconino
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040246005
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lasheena Scott holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Inscription House, Arizona. In 2024, their total compensation was $34,803. Their pay grade is 02.

Mayra Brockie

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Lawton
Work county: Comanche
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 402750031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mayra Brockie works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Lawton, Oklahoma. Mayra earned $34,803 in 2024. Their pay grade is 02.

Tasha Fairbanks

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Redlake
Work county: Beltrami
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 275827007
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tasha Fairbanks is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Redlake, Minnesota. 2024 total compensation came to $34,803. They are classified at grade 02.

Anthony Lindom

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Redlake
Work county: Beltrami
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 275827007
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Anthony Lindom works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Redlake, Minnesota. Anthony earned $34,803 in 2024. Their pay grade is 02.

Dog Lone

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Lawrence
Work county: Douglas
Work state: Kansas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 203010045
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Dog Lone works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Lawrence, Kansas. Dog earned $34,803 in 2024. Their pay grade is 02.

Agnes Sevenstar

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$34,803

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $34,803
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $34,803
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Clinton
Work county: Custer
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $34,803
Basic Pay (before locality): $24,722
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 401030039
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Agnes Sevenstar serves as a Dental Assistant based in Clinton, Oklahoma. Their 2024 pay totaled $34,803. They are classified at grade 02.