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

Wilian Trejo

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$44,117

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $44,117
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,117
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Kayenta
Work county: Navajo
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $44,117
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040253017
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Wilian Trejo serves as a Dental Assistant based in Kayenta, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $44,117. They are classified at grade 06.

Melorie Boone

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$44,083

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $44,083
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,083
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Zuni
Work county: Mckinley
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $44,083
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,343
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350880031
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Melorie Boone holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Zuni, New Mexico. In 2024, their total compensation was $44,083. Their pay grade is 04.

Bretta James

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$44,083

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $44,083
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,083
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $44,083
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,343
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Bretta James serves as a Dental Assistant based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their 2024 pay totaled $44,083. They are classified at grade 04.

Shantell Benally

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,991

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,991
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,991
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Gallup
Work county: Mckinley
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,991
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,265
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350340031
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Shantell Benally holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Gallup, New Mexico. In 2024, their total compensation was $43,991. Their pay grade is 05.

Karen Davis

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,662

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $39,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $4,426
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,662
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Belcourt
Work county: Rolette
Work state: North Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $39,236
Basic Pay (before locality): $33,307
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 380265079
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Karen Davis serves as a Dental Assistant based in Belcourt, North Dakota. Their 2024 pay totaled $43,662. They are classified at grade 04.

Brooke Kent

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,624

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,624
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,624
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Pawnee
Work county: Pawnee
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,624
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,343
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 403690117
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Brooke Kent is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Pawnee, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $43,624. They are classified at grade 04.

Christy Moorman

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,624

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,624
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,624
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Pawnee
Work county: Pawnee
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,624
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,343
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 403690117
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christy Moorman is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Pawnee, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $43,624. They are classified at grade 04.

Nina Yellowtail

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,624

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,624
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,624
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Pryor
Work county: Big Horn
Work state: Montana

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,624
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,343
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 300963003
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nina Yellowtail holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Pryor, Montana. In 2024, their total compensation was $43,624. Their pay grade is 04.

Madison Greene

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,590

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,590
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,590
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Cass Lake
Work county: Cass
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,590
Basic Pay (before locality): $35,066
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 271100021
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Madison Greene works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Madison earned $43,590 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Kamae Leavitt

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,590

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,590
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,590
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Redlake
Work county: Beltrami
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,590
Basic Pay (before locality): $35,066
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 275827007
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Kamae Leavitt serves as a Dental Assistant based in Redlake, Minnesota. Their 2024 pay totaled $43,590. They are classified at grade 03.

Ryley Skadsem

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,533

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,533
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,533
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Naytahwaush
Work county: Mahnomen
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,533
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,265
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 275045087
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ryley Skadsem holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Naytahwaush, Minnesota. In 2024, their total compensation was $43,533. Their pay grade is 05.

Monet Trimble

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,533

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $43,533
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,533
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Toppenish
Work county: Yakima
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $43,533
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,265
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 532300077
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Monet Trimble holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Toppenish, Washington. In 2024, their total compensation was $43,533. Their pay grade is 05.

Shannon Bruton

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$43,445

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $42,445
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,445
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Wewoka
Work county: Seminole
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $42,445
Basic Pay (before locality): $36,334
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 405160133
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Shannon Bruton is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Wewoka, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $43,445. They are classified at grade 04.