It is a great time to pursue a career as a dental assistant in Texas (TX), given the strong job growth in the sector. There are currently almost 30,000 people employed as dental assistants in Texas and the good news is the Bureau for Labor Statistics predicts continued job growth in the sector of 19% between 2016 and 2026.
In order to become a dental assistant, you will need to graduate from an accredited dental assistant school and pass additional state-level or national certification exams. Find out more about the requirements to become a dental assistant in Texas below.
Top CODA Accredited Dental Assistant Schools Texas – 2023
| f | Area | Accrediting Body | Next Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | CODA | 2023 |
| Grayson College | Denison | CODA | 2019 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | CODA | 2023 |
| Medical Education and Training Campus | Ft. Sam Houston | CODA | 2020 |
| Coleman College for Health Sciences | Houston | CODA | 2020 |
| San Antonio College | San Antonio | CODA | 2026 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | CODA | 2023 |
| Removed |
There are currently seven CODA-accredited dental assistant programs in Texas – listed above.
For more details and to view other approved dental assistant programs near you, click on your preferred city below;
- Dental assistant schools in Dallas
- Dental assistant schools in Houston
- Dental assistant schools in Austin
Texas Dental Assistant Schools by City
Dallas
- The College of Health Care Professions
- Dallas College Brookhaven Campus
- Gilbreath-Reed Career Technical Center
- Concorde Career Institute – Arlington Campus
Houston
- The College of Health Care Professions (3 locations)
- Pima Medical Institute
- Blanson CTE High School
- Remington College
Austin
- The College of Health Care Professions
San Antonio
- Academy of Health Science
- Academy of Health Care Professions
Fort Worth
- College of Health Care Professions
- Remington College
- Tarrant County College
You can also view results for schools offering dental assisting programs in Texas and surrounding states on the map below.
Texas Dental Assistant Certification and License Requirements
Once you have graduated from an accredited program, it is required by Texas law that you obtain a license to work as a dental assistant there. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners governs the licensing of dental assistants in Texas. You can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:
Phone: (512) 463-6400
Website: http://www.tsbde.texas.gov/
Dental Assistant Salary Texas
| State | Texas |
|---|---|
| Average Salary | $35,920 |
| Hourly Wage | $17.27 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $49,460 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $25,050 |
| #'s Employed | 29,790 |
How much do dental assistants make in Texas?
The average Dental Assistant salary in Texas is $35,920 – 4.5% below the national average.
This represents an hourly wage of $17.27.
There are currently 29,790 persons employed as dental assistants in the state.
The table below provides a breakdown of salaries and employment of dental assistants across the main towns, cities and non-metro areas in Texas;
| Area | Salary | Hourly Wage | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $41,390 | $19.90 | 2,400 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX | $39,010 | $18.75 | 6,650 |
| Odessa, TX | $44,090 | $21.20 | 170 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $36,030 | $17.32 | 470 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $34,590 | $16.63 | 140 |
| Midland, TX | $36,930 | $17.75 | 110 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $37,830 | $18.19 | 390 |
| Waco, TX | $33,560 | $16.14 | 210 |
| Amarillo, TX | $34,220 | $16.45 | 310 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $32,910 | $15.82 | 3,420 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $39,600 | $19.04 | 120 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $37,790 | $18.17 | 9,220 |
| Laredo, TX | $33,290 | $16.00 | 170 |
| Tyler, TX | $33,310 | $16.01 | 400 |
| Victoria, TX | $33,110 | $15.92 | 90 |
| Longview, TX | $34,520 | $16.59 | 170 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $34,330 | $16.51 | 120 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $34,880 | $16.77 | 390 |
| Lubbock, TX | $33,330 | $16.02 | 380 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $35,540 | $17.09 | 7,090 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $34,300 | $16.49 | 380 |
| Abilene, TX | $34,050 | $16.37 | 200 |
| Big Thicket Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,390 | $17.02 | 230 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,090 | $16.87 | 290 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $33,730 | $16.22 | 310 |
| San Angelo, TX | $32,490 | $15.62 | 120 |
| Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $34,620 | $16.64 | 2,570 |
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,460 | $14.16 | 470 |
| West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,080 | $14.46 | 260 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $32,700 | $15.72 | 190 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $29,320 | $14.10 | 550 |
| El Paso, TX | $31,280 | $15.04 | 820 |
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,560 | $14.21 | 50 |
*Updated May 2018 to allow for the most recent BLS data released in March 2018.
Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in Texas
The table below provides a comparison between income and employment for dental assistants with related healthcare careers in Texas;
| Career | Number Employed | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | 26,380 | $35,260 |
| Dental Hygienists | 12,980 | $72,320 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 4,650 | $74,640 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 32,000 | $32,580 |
| Surgical Technologists | 9,790 | $45,100 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 9,020 | $29,740 |
| Nursing Assistants | 82,660 | $24,550 |
| Medical Assistants | 57,180 | $29,180 |
| Phlebotomists | 8,850 | $30,660 |