U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Veterans Affairs / Dental Assistant

Job-title file

Dental Assistant

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

1,922 employees hold this title in Department of Veterans Affairs. Median total compensation for the role is $57,191, below the department median of $88,751.

Employees: 1,922
Total payroll: $112.3M
Role median: $57,191
Agency median: $88,751
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$83,307+

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

How total compensation varies among the 1,922 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 Veterans Affairs pays a median base salary of $57,191 for this role, 19% above that figure — about the 73rd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Veterans Affairs sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$37,130

$44,340

$48,070

$58,090

$62,250

Department of Veterans Affairs median · $57,191

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 Veterans Affairs’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 1,918 of 1,922 people in this role paid at least $25,000 in 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 Veterans Affairs is $57,191, 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 Veterans Affairs, the median of $57,191 ranks #2 of 4.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Homeland Security

$60,406 · 1

Department of Health and Human Services

$50,127 · 384

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 Assistant roles 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 8

Olivea Mayes

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,645

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,645
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,645
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Tulsa
Work county: Tulsa
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,645
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 404780143
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Olivea Mayes holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,645. Their pay grade is 06.

Zitlally Peralta

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,645

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,645
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,645
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Tulsa
Work county: Tulsa
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,645
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 404780143
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Zitlally Peralta works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zitlally earned $58,645 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Moiya Phillips

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,645

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,645
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,645
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Muskogee
Work county: Muskogee
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,645
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 403310101
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Veterans Affairs, Moiya Phillips serves as a Dental Assistant based in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Their 2024 pay totaled $58,645. They are classified at grade 06.

Tyler Pippin

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,645

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,645
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,645
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Muskogee
Work county: Muskogee
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,645
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 403310101
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tyler Pippin holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Muskogee, Oklahoma. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,645. Their pay grade is 06.

Jcee Seeton

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,645

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,645
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,645
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Tulsa
Work county: Tulsa
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,645
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 404780143
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jcee Seeton works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jcee earned $58,645 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Sharlen Smith

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,645

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,645
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,645
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Tulsa
Work county: Tulsa
Work state: Oklahoma

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,645
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 404780143
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sharlen Smith is a Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 2024 total compensation came to $58,645. They are classified at grade 06.

Martin Martinez

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,599

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,599
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,599
Pay grade: 08
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,599
Basic Pay (before locality): $48,024
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Veterans Affairs, Martin Martinez serves as a Dental Assistant based in Phoenix, Arizona. Their 2024 pay totaled $58,599. They are classified at grade 08.

Sylvia Price

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,537

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,537
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,537
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Las Vegas
Work county: Clark
Work state: Nevada

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,537
Basic Pay (before locality): $49,096
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 320120003
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sylvia Price is a Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Las Vegas, Nevada. 2024 total compensation came to $58,537. They are classified at grade 06.

Estela Valdez

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,537

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,537
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,537
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Las Vegas
Work county: Clark
Work state: Nevada

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,537
Basic Pay (before locality): $49,096
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 320120003
Length of Service (Years): 23
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Veterans Affairs, Estela Valdez serves as a Dental Assistant based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their 2024 pay totaled $58,537. They are classified at grade 06.

Manjula Singh

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,534

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,534
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,534
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Mcclellan
Work county: Sacramento
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,534
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062025067
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Manjula Singh works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Mcclellan, California. Manjula earned $58,534 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Alicia Martinez

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,534

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,534
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,534
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Mcclellan
Work county: Sacramento
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,534
Basic Pay (before locality): $45,319
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062025067
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Alicia Martinez works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Mcclellan, California. Alicia earned $58,534 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Holly Moss

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,511

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,261
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,511
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Boise
Work county: Ada
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,261
Basic Pay (before locality): $44,060
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160160001
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Holly Moss holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Boise, Idaho. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,511. Their pay grade is 06.

Nicole Loose

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,473

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,473
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,473
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Lebanon
Work county: Lebanon
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,473
Basic Pay (before locality): $49,096
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 424340075
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nicole Loose works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Nicole earned $58,473 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Melissa Namanny

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,466

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,466
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,466
Pay grade: 08
Work city: Omaha
Work county: Douglas
Work state: Nebraska

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,466
Basic Pay (before locality): $49,573
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 313620055
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Melissa Namanny holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,466. Their pay grade is 08.

Chloe Gettmann

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,400

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,400
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,400
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Portland
Work county: Multnomah
Work state: Oregon

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,400
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 411650051
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Chloe Gettmann works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Portland, Oregon. Chloe earned $58,400 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Cyndi Parmenter

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,400

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,400
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,400
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Portland
Work county: Multnomah
Work state: Oregon

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,400
Basic Pay (before locality): $37,765
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 411650051
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Cyndi Parmenter works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Portland, Oregon. Cyndi earned $58,400 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Tracy Henley

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,371

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,371
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,371
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Phoenix
Work county: Maricopa
Work state: Arizona

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,371
Basic Pay (before locality): $47,837
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 040370013
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tracy Henley works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Phoenix, Arizona. Tracy earned $58,371 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Sincerai Perry

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,366

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,366
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,366
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Cleveland
Work county: Cuyahoga
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,366
Basic Pay (before locality): $47,837
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 391680035
Length of Service (Years): 19
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Sincerai Perry holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,366. Their pay grade is 06.

Renita Thomas

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,366

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,366
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,366
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Cleveland
Work county: Cuyahoga
Work state: Ohio

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,366
Basic Pay (before locality): $47,837
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 391680035
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Veterans Affairs, Renita Thomas serves as a Dental Assistant based in Cleveland, Ohio. Their 2024 pay totaled $58,366. They are classified at grade 06.

Lashawn Legree

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,356

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,356
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,356
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Buffalo
Work county: Erie
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,356
Basic Pay (before locality): $47,837
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 360750029
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Lashawn Legree works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Buffalo, New York. Lashawn earned $58,356 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Mildred Klass

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,356

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,356
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,356
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Buffalo
Work county: Erie
Work state: New York

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,356
Basic Pay (before locality): $47,837
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 360750029
Length of Service (Years): 15
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mildred Klass works as a Dental Assistant for Department of Veterans Affairs based in Buffalo, New York. Mildred earned $58,356 in 2024. Their pay grade is 06.

Teresa Hubert

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,333

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,333
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,333
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Big Spring
Work county: Howard
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,333
Basic Pay (before locality): $39,024
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 480640227
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Veterans Affairs, Teresa Hubert serves as a Dental Assistant based in Big Spring, Texas. Their 2024 pay totaled $58,333. They are classified at grade 06.

Yvonne Cerna

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,333

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,333
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,333
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Big Spring
Work county: Howard
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,333
Basic Pay (before locality): $39,024
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 480640227
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Yvonne Cerna holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Big Spring, Texas. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,333. Their pay grade is 06.

Charla Cutright

Dental Assistant/Department of Veterans Affairs

2024 total comp

$58,318

Sub-department: Veterans Health Administration
Base pay: $58,318
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $58,318
Pay grade: 06
Work city: Richmond
Work county: Richmond
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $58,318
Basic Pay (before locality): $47,837
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512060760
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0681
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Charla Cutright holds the role of Dental Assistant at Department of Veterans Affairs based in Richmond, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $58,318. Their pay grade is 06.