Launch your dental career with free online training. Mississippi dental assistants earn $40,160+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$40,160/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
1,600+
Population 65+
17.1
Training Cost
FREE
Magnolia State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 1,600+ dental practices and a population where 17.1 are over 65.
Mississippi dental assistants earn $40,160 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $42,500 - $48,500.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across Mississippi.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Mississippi requires dental assistants to register with the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Mississippi offers Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) credentials for additional clinical procedures through approved training.
Mississippi requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Mississippi state exam. Radiography certification must be renewed with continuing education requirements.
Largest market, UMC dental school
Coastal tourism, casino industry
Northeast Mississippi hub
Southern Mississippi, USM presence
East Mississippi hub
Mississippi offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 200+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 2500 N State St, Jackson, MS 39216
Mississippi's only dental school serving the state's diverse populations.
View Careers →Employees: 300+
Facilities: 15+ locations
Location: Multiple MS locations
National DSO with Mississippi presence offering career development.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 6 locations
Location: Mississippi Delta
Historic community health center serving Mississippi Delta's underserved populations.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Canton/Central Mississippi
Community health center serving Central Mississippi communities.
View Careers →Employees: 75+
Facilities: 4 locations
Location: Clarksdale/North Delta
Community health center serving North Mississippi Delta region.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Gulf Coast
Community health center serving Mississippi's Gulf Coast communities.
View Careers →Employees: 75+
Facilities: 3 locations
Location: Jackson area
Community health center serving Jackson's underserved neighborhoods.
View Careers →Employees: 2,400+
Facilities: 1,350+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from Jackson to rural Mississippi communities.
View Careers →Brittany J.
Jackson • UMMC Dental
"Dental school employment provides excellent experience and benefits. Love the teaching environment!"
2024-11
Marcus T.
Biloxi • Private Practice
"Gulf Coast lifestyle plus dental career. Casino tourism creates steady patient flow."
2024-10
Ashley R.
Greenville • Delta Health Center
"Serving Delta communities is meaningful work. Historic FQHC with great mission."
2024-09
Mississippi dental assistants earn an average of $40,160 annually ($19.31/hour). Entry-level positions start at $32,500-$36,500, while experienced DAs earn $42,500-$48,500. Jackson metro offers highest wages at $38,000-$44,000. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, Mississippi requires dental assistants to register with the State Board of Dental Examiners. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. EFDA credentials require additional approved training for expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. Mississippi registration requires proof of training plus radiography certification. The complete process typically takes 2-3 months from enrollment to employment.
Positive outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. Mississippi's 2.9 million population and 1,600 dental practices create consistent demand. Significant community health center presence provides opportunities in underserved areas with potential loan repayment.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for Mississippi registration fee, radiography certification exam, and any optional certifications when ready. Many Mississippi employers—especially community health centers—reimburse certification costs.
Jackson metro leads with $38,000-$44,000 as home to UMMC dental school. Gulf Coast (Biloxi/Gulfport) offers $37,000-$43,000 with casino and tourism industry support. Mississippi's lower cost of living provides solid purchasing power.
Mississippi offers: (1) UMMC dental school providing academic employment, (2) Strong FQHC presence for underserved area work, (3) Very low cost of living maximizing purchasing power, (4) Delta Health Center—nation's first community health center, (5) Rural opportunities with community integration.
Yes! Mississippi's significant community health center network—including Delta Health Center, G.A. Carmichael, and others—may qualify for NHSC loan repayment programs. Rural and underserved area positions often offer additional incentives to attract healthcare workers.
Join thousands of Mississippi residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredMississippi's dental workforce serves approximately 2.9 million residents through an estimated 1,600 dental practices. Jackson dominates dental employment, with additional markets along the Gulf Coast and in regional centers like Tupelo and Hattiesburg.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Mississippi employed approximately 4,600 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $40,160. While below the national median, Mississippi's very low cost of living provides competitive purchasing power.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry in Jackson is the state's only dental school. Established in 1975, it trains approximately 35 dentists annually and provides clinical education opportunities for dental assistants in academic settings.
Mississippi has significant dental health disparities, particularly in the Delta region. Community health centers including the historic Delta Health Center—the nation's first community health center, established in 1967—provide dental services to underserved populations.
The Mississippi Delta's rural communities face persistent dental provider shortages. Positions in these areas often qualify for NHSC loan repayment and offer meaningful community impact for dental assistants committed to serving underserved populations.
Mississippi's Gulf Coast (Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula) benefits from casino and tourism industries creating economic activity and dental service demand. This coastal region offers lifestyle benefits with relatively strong wages compared to rural Mississippi.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.