Launch your dental career with free online training. Colorado dental assistants earn $51,000+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$51,000/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
3,800+
Population 65+
15.8
Training Cost
FREE
Centennial State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 3,800+ dental practices and a population where 15.8 are over 65.
Colorado dental assistants earn $51,000 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $54,000 - $62,000.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across Colorado.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Colorado requires dental assistants to register with the Colorado Dental Board to perform expanded duties. Basic dental assistants working under direct supervision need no formal credential. Colorado recognizes DANB certification and offers state-specific Expanded Duty Dental Auxiliary (EDDA) permits for additional functions.
Colorado requires dental assistants to complete an approved radiography course and obtain certification to expose dental X-rays. The Colorado Dental Board accepts DANB's Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) certification. Certification must be renewed with continuing education requirements.
Largest market, Front Range hub
University town, health-conscious population
Military community, second largest city
Growing northern Colorado market
Resort towns, seasonal premium pay
Colorado offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 1,200+
Facilities: 50+ locations
Location: Colorado statewide
Major DSO with extensive Colorado presence through Perfect Teeth brand.
View Careers →Employees: 500+
Facilities: 25+ locations
Location: Multiple CO locations
Doctor-led DSO providing practice support throughout Colorado.
View Careers →Employees: 400+
Facilities: 20+ locations
Location: Multiple CO locations
National DSO with growing Colorado presence offering structured career paths.
View Careers →Employees: 300+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 13065 E 17th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045
Colorado's only dental school, part of CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Denver metro
Safety net hospital system serving Denver's underserved populations.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: 15 locations
Location: Colorado statewide
Pediatric-focused DSO serving children and families across Colorado.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 8 practices
Location: Front Range
Established multi-location practice group serving the Colorado Front Range.
View Careers →Employees: 5,500+
Facilities: 3,200+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices including mountain resort communities with seasonal opportunities.
View Careers →Rachel K.
Denver • Perfect Teeth
"The DSO structure gave me stability and a clear career path. Great training support!"
2024-11
Tyler M.
Vail • Resort Dental Practice
"Working in Vail means skiing before work and great pay. Best career move ever!"
2024-10
Amanda S.
Colorado Springs • Private Practice
"Military community is wonderful to serve. Stable employment with great patient relationships."
2024-09
Colorado dental assistants earn an average of $51,000 annually ($24.52/hour). Entry-level positions start at $41,000-$46,500, while experienced DAs earn $54,000-$62,000. Mountain resort communities (Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge) often pay premiums of 10-20%. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Basic dental assistants in Colorado can work under direct dentist supervision without registration. However, registration with the Colorado Dental Board is required for expanded duties and radiography certification. EDDA permits require additional approved training.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. Colorado's radiography certification requires an approved course plus examination. EDDA permits require additional Board-approved training for expanded clinical functions.
Very strong! 6% projected growth through 2034 with excellent fundamentals: Colorado's rapid population growth (5.9 million residents), 3,800+ dental practices, and outdoor lifestyle attracting young professionals create sustained dental service demand.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You only pay for Colorado radiography certification and any optional DANB certifications when ready. Many Colorado employers—especially DSOs like Perfect Teeth—reimburse certification costs for employees.
Mountain resort communities (Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Telluride) often pay $50,000-$60,000+ with housing assistance due to worker shortages. Denver metro averages $49,000-$58,000 as the largest market. Boulder offers $48,000-$56,000 in a competitive, health-focused market.
Colorado offers: (1) Mountain resort town opportunities with premium pay and housing, (2) Health-conscious population valuing dental care, (3) Strong outdoor lifestyle with work-life balance, (4) Growing population creating sustained demand, (5) CU dental school for academic opportunities.
Yes! Mountain resort communities like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Telluride need dental assistants year-round. These positions often include premium pay, housing assistance, ski passes, and outdoor lifestyle benefits. Competition can be high for these desirable locations.
Join thousands of Colorado residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredColorado's dental workforce serves approximately 5.9 million residents through an estimated 3,800+ dental practices. The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area contains the majority of dental employment, though mountain resort communities offer unique opportunities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Colorado employed approximately 9,500 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of approximately $51,000—above the national median and reflecting Colorado's higher cost of living.
The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus represents Colorado's only dental school. Opened in 2011, the school trains approximately 80 dentists annually and creates clinical education opportunities for dental assistants.
Colorado's outdoor lifestyle and healthy population demographics influence dental practice patterns. Practices often emphasize preventive care and aesthetics, with patients typically engaged in their oral health maintenance.
Mountain resort communities present unique dental employment opportunities. Towns like Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Telluride face worker housing challenges that often translate to premium compensation packages including housing assistance and lifestyle benefits for healthcare workers.
Perfect Teeth, operating under Smile Brands, maintains extensive Colorado presence with 50+ locations statewide. This DSO presence, combined with other national organizations and strong private practice sector, creates diverse employment options throughout the state.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.