Launch your dental career with free online training. Missouri dental assistants earn $45,390+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$45,390/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
4,100+
Population 65+
17.9
Training Cost
FREE
Show-Me State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 4,100+ dental practices and a population where 17.9 are over 65.
Missouri dental assistants earn $45,390 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $48,500 - $56,000.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across Missouri.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Missouri requires dental assistants to register with the Missouri Dental Board. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Missouri offers Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) credentials for additional clinical procedures through approved training and examination.
Missouri requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Missouri state exam. Radiography certification is part of DA registration requirements and must be renewed.
Western Missouri hub, UMKC dental school
Largest market, multiple dental schools
Southwest Missouri hub
University town, MU presence
State capital
Missouri offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 250+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 650 E 25th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Kansas City dental school with comprehensive clinical programs.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 800 W Jefferson St, Kirksville, MO 63501
Innovative dental school with community health focus in rural Missouri.
View Careers →Employees: 700+
Facilities: 35+ locations
Location: Multiple MO locations
National DSO with strong Missouri presence offering career development.
View Careers →Employees: 500+
Facilities: 25+ locations
Location: Multiple MO locations
Doctor-led DSO with significant Missouri footprint.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: St. Louis area
Major St. Louis health system with dental services.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 4 locations
Location: St. Louis
Community health center serving St. Louis's underserved communities.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 8 locations
Location: Springfield area
Major Southwest Missouri community health center.
View Careers →Employees: 6,200+
Facilities: 3,400+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from urban St. Louis and KC to rural Missouri.
View Careers →Jennifer M.
St. Louis • BJC HealthCare
"Health system provides stability with multiple career paths. Great St. Louis employer!"
2024-11
Michael T.
Kansas City • UMKC Dental
"Dental school employment means cutting-edge procedures and diverse patient populations."
2024-10
Amanda R.
Springfield • Jordan Valley CHC
"Community health work in Southwest Missouri is rewarding. Meaningful patient relationships."
2024-09
Missouri dental assistants earn an average of $45,390 annually ($21.82/hour). Entry-level positions start at $36,500-$41,500, while experienced DAs earn $48,500-$56,000. St. Louis metro offers highest wages at $44,000-$52,000. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, Missouri requires dental assistants to register with the Missouri Dental Board. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. EFDA 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. Missouri 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. Missouri's 6.2 million population, 4,100+ dental practices, and two dental schools create substantial demand. Both Kansas City and St. Louis markets offer diverse employment opportunities.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for Missouri registration fee, radiography certification exam, and any optional certifications when ready. Many Missouri employers reimburse certification costs.
St. Louis metro leads with $44,000-$52,000 in Missouri's largest dental market. Kansas City offers $43,000-$51,000 near UMKC dental school. Both metros provide diverse practice settings from urban to suburban opportunities.
Missouri offers: (1) Two dental schools (UMKC, ATSU-MOSDOH), (2) Two major metros (STL, KC) with diverse markets, (3) Moderate cost of living, (4) Strong community health center presence, (5) Rural opportunities in central and southern Missouri.
Yes! A.T. Still University's dental school in Kirksville focuses on community health and rural dentistry. Rural Missouri faces provider shortages creating opportunities with potential incentives. Community health centers serve underserved populations throughout the state.
Join thousands of Missouri residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredMissouri's dental workforce serves approximately 6.2 million residents through an estimated 4,100+ dental practices. St. Louis and Kansas City metros dominate dental employment, with significant markets in Springfield, Columbia, and regional centers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Missouri employed approximately 10,200 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $45,390—near the national median with Missouri's moderate cost of living providing competitive purchasing power.
Missouri hosts two dental schools—UMKC School of Dentistry in Kansas City and A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Kirksville. ATSU-MOSDOH's innovative community-focused model emphasizes rural and underserved population care.
Missouri's dual-metro structure creates distinct dental markets. St. Louis and Kansas City each offer diverse employment opportunities, from academic medical centers to DSO practices to private offices, with different community characteristics and patient populations.
Community health centers including Jordan Valley in Springfield and Myrtle Hilliard Davis in St. Louis serve underserved populations with potential loan repayment benefits. These organizations provide mission-driven employment with diverse clinical experiences.
Rural Missouri—including the Ozarks and northern agricultural regions—faces dental provider shortages. These areas offer community integration and lifestyle benefits that urban practices cannot match, with potential recruitment incentives for qualified dental assistants.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.