Launch your dental career with free online training. Michigan 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
6,200+
Population 65+
18.4
Training Cost
FREE
Great Lakes State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 6,200+ dental practices and a population where 18.4 are over 65.
Michigan 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 Michigan.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Michigan requires dental assistants to register with the Michigan Board of Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Michigan offers Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) credentials for expanded clinical procedures through additional training and examination.
Michigan requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Michigan state exam. Radiography certification is part of DA registration. Certification must be renewed with continuing education.
Largest market, UDM dental school
UM dental school, educated population
West Michigan hub, growing market
State capital, MSU proximity
Resort areas, seasonal variations
Michigan offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 400+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 1011 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Top-ranked dental school with comprehensive research and clinical programs.
View Careers →Employees: 250+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208
Detroit dental school serving urban and diverse patient populations.
View Careers →Employees: 1,200+
Facilities: 55+ locations
Location: Multiple MI locations
National DSO with extensive Michigan presence offering career paths.
View Careers →Employees: 600+
Facilities: 30+ locations
Location: Multiple MI locations
Doctor-led DSO with growing Michigan footprint.
View Careers →Employees: 300+
Facilities: 15+ locations
Location: Southeast Michigan
Major Detroit health system with comprehensive dental services.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: 10+ locations
Location: West Michigan
West Michigan's largest health system with dental services.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 8 locations
Location: Grand Rapids area
Community health center serving West Michigan's underserved populations.
View Careers →Employees: 9,000+
Facilities: 5,200+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from Detroit suburbs to Upper Peninsula.
View Careers →Amanda T.
Ann Arbor • UM Dental School
"Working at a top-ranked dental school is incredible. Amazing research and clinical exposure!"
2024-11
Chris B.
Detroit • Henry Ford Health
"Health system provides stability and multiple career paths. Great benefits package."
2024-10
Jessica L.
Grand Rapids • Cherry Health
"Community health work in West Michigan is rewarding. Diverse patients, meaningful impact."
2024-09
Michigan 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. Ann Arbor pays highest at $55,000-$65,000 near UM dental school. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, Michigan requires dental assistants to register with the Board of Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. RDA credentials require additional training and examination for expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. Michigan registration requires proof of training plus radiography certification. The complete process typically takes 2-3 months from enrollment to employment.
Strong outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. Michigan's 10 million population, 6,200+ dental practices, and two dental schools (UM, UDM) create substantial demand. Major health systems provide additional employment opportunities.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for Michigan registration fee, radiography certification exam, and any optional credentials when ready. Many Michigan employers reimburse certification costs.
Ann Arbor leads with $55,000-$65,000 near University of Michigan's top-ranked dental school. Detroit metro offers $54,000-$64,000 with diverse practice settings. Grand Rapids provides $50,000-$58,000 in West Michigan's growing market.
Michigan offers: (1) Two dental schools with academic employment, (2) Major health systems (Henry Ford, Spectrum Health) providing career paths, (3) Diverse markets from urban Detroit to resort Northern Michigan, (4) Strong wages above national median, (5) Lower cost of living than coastal states.
Yes! Traverse City and Northern Michigan offer $49,000-$57,000 with resort lifestyle benefits. Summer tourism creates seasonal demand variations. Upper Peninsula positions may offer premium pay and rural practice experience with community integration.
Join thousands of Michigan residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredMichigan's dental workforce serves approximately 10 million residents through an estimated 6,200+ dental practices. Southeast Michigan (Detroit metro, Ann Arbor) contains the largest concentration of dental employment, with significant markets in Grand Rapids and Northern Michigan.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Michigan employed approximately 16,200 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $56,790—significantly above the national median and among the highest in the Midwest.
Michigan hosts two dental schools—University of Michigan School of Dentistry (consistently top-ranked) and University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. These institutions create substantial academic employment opportunities and shape Michigan's dental workforce.
Major health systems including Henry Ford Health (Detroit), Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids), and others operate dental services throughout Michigan. These organizations provide structured employment with benefits, career advancement, and integrated healthcare experience.
Michigan's diverse geography—from urban Detroit to West Michigan's Grand Rapids corridor to Northern Michigan's resort communities—creates varied practice opportunities. The Upper Peninsula offers rural practice experience with unique community integration.
Community health centers including Cherry Health in Grand Rapids serve underserved populations with potential loan repayment benefits. Michigan's immigrant communities, particularly in Dearborn and Detroit, create opportunities for culturally competent dental assistants.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.