Launch your dental career with free online training. Massachusetts dental assistants earn $56,790+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$56,790/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
4,500+
Population 65+
18.1
Training Cost
FREE
Bay State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 4,500+ dental practices and a population where 18.1 are over 65.
Massachusetts dental assistants earn $56,790 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $60,000 - $69,000.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across Massachusetts.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Massachusetts requires dental assistants to register with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Massachusetts offers Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) credentials for advanced clinical procedures.
Massachusetts requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course (minimum 10 hours) and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. Separate radiography license is required. Certification must be renewed with continuing education.
Largest market, multiple dental schools
Harvard/MIT area, educated population
Salem, Lynn, coastal communities
Quincy, Braintree, Plymouth area
Central Massachusetts hub
Western Massachusetts, lower COL
Massachusetts offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 300+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115
Elite dental school with cutting-edge research and clinical programs.
View Careers →Employees: 400+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 72 E Concord St, Boston, MA 02118
Major dental school in Boston's medical district with diverse clinical programs.
View Careers →Employees: 350+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 1 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111
Boston dental school known for clinical excellence and community outreach.
View Careers →Employees: 800+
Facilities: 40+ locations
Location: Multiple MA locations
National DSO with strong Massachusetts presence offering career development.
View Careers →Employees: 250+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: Boston area
Premier academic health system with dental services throughout Boston.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 3 locations
Location: Cape Cod
Community health center serving Cape Cod's year-round and seasonal populations.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Worcester area
Major community health center serving Central Massachusetts.
View Careers →Employees: 6,500+
Facilities: 3,800+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from Boston to the Berkshires.
View Careers →Jennifer M.
Boston • Tufts Dental
"Working at a dental school means cutting-edge dentistry and amazing colleagues. Worth every minute!"
2024-11
Michael R.
Cambridge • Private Practice
"Harvard Square practice serves interesting patients. Premium pay in an exciting area."
2024-10
Sarah K.
Worcester • Kennedy CHC
"Community health work is meaningful. Serving Central Mass families makes a difference."
2024-09
Massachusetts dental assistants earn an average of $56,790 annually ($27.30/hour)—well above the national median. Entry-level positions start at $45,500-$51,500, while experienced DAs earn $60,000-$69,000. Boston/Cambridge pays highest at $54,000-$66,000. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, Massachusetts requires dental assistants to register with the Board of Registration in Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Separate radiography license required for X-rays. EFDA credentials allow expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks. Massachusetts registration requires proof of training plus radiography license (10-hour course plus DANB RHS exam). Most students are job-ready in 2-3 months.
Excellent outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. Massachusetts has three major dental schools (Harvard, BU, Tufts) creating extensive employment opportunities. Boston's healthcare hub status and 4,500+ dental practices ensure strong demand.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for Massachusetts registration and radiography license fees, plus certification exams. Many Massachusetts employers—especially academic institutions—reimburse certification costs.
Cambridge/Somerville leads with $55,000-$66,000 serving Harvard/MIT communities. Boston metro offers $54,000-$65,000 near three dental schools. North Shore coastal communities pay $52,000-$61,000. Western Massachusetts offers lower wages but significantly lower cost of living.
Massachusetts offers: (1) Three world-class dental schools (Harvard, BU, Tufts), (2) Highest regional wages in New England, (3) Academic health system employment opportunities, (4) Diverse patient populations, (5) Strong healthcare economy and job security.
Yes! All three Boston-area dental schools employ dental assistants in clinical education settings. These positions offer exposure to advanced procedures, excellent benefits, and academic medical center environments. Competition for positions can be high given prestige.
Join thousands of Massachusetts residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredMassachusetts's dental workforce serves approximately 7 million residents through an estimated 4,500+ dental practices. Greater Boston dominates dental employment, though opportunities extend from Cape Cod to the Berkshires.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Massachusetts employed approximately 11,800 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $56,790—significantly above the national median and among the highest regionally.
Massachusetts hosts three prestigious dental schools—Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. This concentration creates unparalleled academic employment opportunities and shapes Boston's dental landscape.
Boston's Longwood Medical Area contains multiple academic medical centers creating integrated healthcare employment. Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and other systems offer dental services with academic medical center benefits and career advancement.
Massachusetts's high cost of living—particularly in Boston and eastern communities—is offset by correspondingly high wages. Western Massachusetts (Springfield, Northampton) offers lower costs with wages that provide competitive purchasing power.
Community health centers including the Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester and Cape Cod facilities serve diverse populations with potential loan repayment benefits. These organizations provide mission-driven employment serving Massachusetts's immigrant and underserved communities.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.