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

Evangeline Yellowhair

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,928

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,928
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,928
Pay grade: 07
Work city: Kayenta
Work county: Navajo
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,928
Basic Pay (before locality): $46,163
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040253017
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Evangeline Yellowhair is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Kayenta, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $53,928. They are classified at grade 07.

Shannon Begay

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,762

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,762
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,762
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,762
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,060
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Shannon Begay serves as a Dental Assistant based in Phoenix, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $53,762. They are classified at grade 06.

Rolanda Curley

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,762

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,762
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,762
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,762
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,060
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rolanda Curley is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Phoenix, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $53,762. They are classified at grade 06.

Cheryl James

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,762

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,762
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,762
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,762
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,060
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Cheryl James holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2024, their total compensation was $53,762. Their pay grade is 06.

Veronica Johns

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,762

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,762
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,762
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,762
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,060
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Veronica Johns serves as a Dental Assistant based in Phoenix, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $53,762. They are classified at grade 06.

Leigh Gonnie

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,736

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,736
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,736
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,736
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,039
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Leigh Gonnie serves as a Dental Assistant based in Phoenix, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $53,736. They are classified at grade 05.

Alba Sepulveda

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,688

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,688
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,688
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Winterhaven
Work county: Imperial
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,688
Basic Pay (before locality): $39,523
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 064242025
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Alba Sepulveda is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Winterhaven, California. 2024 total compensation came to $53,688. They are classified at grade 05.

Erica Fernando

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,499
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Acomita
Work county: Cibola
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350005006
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Erica Fernando serves as a Dental Assistant based in Acomita, New Mexico. Their 2024 pay totaled $53,499. They are classified at grade 06.

Valina Chee

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,499
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Gallup
Work county: Mckinley
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350340031
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Valina Chee holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Gallup, New Mexico. In 2024, their total compensation was $53,499. Their pay grade is 06.

Yolanda Pinto

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,499

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $53,499
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,499
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Albuquerque
Work county: Bernalillo
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $53,499
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350030001
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Yolanda Pinto works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yolanda earned $53,499 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Lorraine Jacquez

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$53,442

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $53,442
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Towaoc
Work county: Montezuma
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 082435083
Length of Service (Years): 13
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lorraine Jacquez holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Towaoc, Colorado. In 2024, their total compensation was $53,442. Their pay grade is 06.

Nachelle Kalama

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Warm Springs
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Oregon

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 412175031
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nachelle Kalama holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Warm Springs, Oregon. In 2024, their total compensation was $52,942. Their pay grade is 06.

Alissa Loneman

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Clinton
Work county: Custer
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 401030039
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Alissa Loneman is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Clinton, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $52,942. They are classified at grade 06.

Charlotte Altaha

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Whiteriver
Work county: Navajo
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040565017
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Charlotte Altaha serves as a Dental Assistant based in Whiteriver, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $52,942. They are classified at grade 06.

Katherine Ayers

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Parker
Work county: La Paz
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040340012
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Katherine Ayers is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Parker, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $52,942. They are classified at grade 06.

Kristina Cole

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: White Earth
Work county: Becker
Work state: Minnesota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 277555005
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kristina Cole holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in White Earth, Minnesota. In 2024, their total compensation was $52,942. Their pay grade is 06.

Rochelle Ferguson

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Kyle
Work county: Shannon
Work state: South Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 461525113
Length of Service (Years): 32
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Rochelle Ferguson serves as a Dental Assistant based in Kyle, South Dakota. Their 2024 pay totaled $52,942. They are classified at grade 06.

Denise Houseman

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Pine Ridge
Work county: Shannon
Work state: South Dakota

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 462165113
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Denise Houseman holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. In 2024, their total compensation was $52,942. Their pay grade is 06.

Suzanne Tom

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Teec Nos Pos
Work county: Apache
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040495001
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Suzanne Tom is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $52,942. They are classified at grade 06.

Fallon John

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,942

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,942
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Shiprock
Work county: San Juan
Work state: New Mexico

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 350745045
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Health and Human Services, Fallon John serves as a Dental Assistant based in Shiprock, New Mexico. Their 2024 pay totaled $52,942. They are classified at grade 06.

Natalie Stevens

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,835

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,371
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $464
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,835
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Sells
Work county: Pima
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,371
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,039
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040425019
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Natalie Stevens is a Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Sells, Arizona. 2024 total compensation came to $52,835. They are classified at grade 05.

Natasha Teller

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,471

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $51,471
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,471
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Chinle
Work county: Apache
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $51,471
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,060
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040083001
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Natasha Teller holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Health and Human Services based in Chinle, Arizona. In 2024, their total compensation was $52,471. Their pay grade is 06.

Rose Ramon

Dental Assistant/Department of Health and Human Services

2024 total comp

$52,371

Sub-department: Indian Health Service
Base pay: $52,371
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $52,371
Pay grade: 05
Work city: Sells
Work county: Pima
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $52,371
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,039
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040425019
Length of Service (Years): 25
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rose Ramon works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Health and Human Services based in Sells, Arizona. Rose earned $52,371 in 2024. Their pay grade is 05.