Dental assistant salary in Canada
Wage data for dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants.
Compare places, offers and schedules
A higher hourly rate can still mean less annual pay. Give each scenario its own paid hours and weeks.
First scenario
Second scenario
At 37.5 paid hours a week and 52 paid weeks a year. Both results use median hourly wages.
Before tax and deductions. Annual salaries stay fixed when hours change; their hourly equivalent changes. Monthly amounts are annual pay divided by 12.
Plan for an annual pay target
A $60,000 annual gross target at 37.5 paid hours a week and 52 paid weeks requires $30.77 an hour.
This compares published wage estimates with your target. It does not predict an offer, job availability, living costs or take-home pay.
Wages across Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages. These are wage distributions, not experience levels.
| Place | Low / hr | Median / hr | High / hr | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $21.00 | $35.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Alberta | $24.00 | $38.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| British Columbia | $24.00 | $36.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $33.76 | 2023-2024 | |
| New Brunswick | $22.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Northwest Territories | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 | $32.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Nunavut | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $34.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Prince Edward Island | $18.92 | $26.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Quebec | $21.00 | $30.16 | 2023-2024 | |
| Saskatchewan | $22.00 | $37.00 | 2023-2024 | |
| Yukon Territory | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
Source: Job Bank · Wage update 2025-11-19 · All amounts in CAD
Wages within a province
Compare Job Bank economic regions, then select a region in the pay planner above.
| Economic region | Low / hr | Median / hr | High / hr | Data period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athabasca–Grande Prairie–Peace River RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $24.00 | $28.50 | $31.50 | 2023-2024 |
| Banff–Jasper–Rocky Mountain House RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $24.00 | $28.50 | $31.50 | 2023-2024 |
| Calgary RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $23.00 | $33.00 | $37.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Camrose–Drumheller RegionSmall Area Estimation | $22.20 | $27.26 | $32.12 | 2024 |
| Edmonton RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $29.00 | $34.00 | $38.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Lethbridge–Medicine Hat RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $25.00 | $30.00 | $35.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Red Deer RegionSmall Area Estimation | $21.89 | $27.88 | $31.97 | 2024 |
| Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.37 | $27.37 | $34.38 | 2024 |
| Cariboo RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Kootenay RegionSmall Area Estimation | $22.87 | $26.96 | $32.53 | 2024 |
| Lower Mainland–Southwest RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $22.50 | $31.00 | $35.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Nechako RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| North Coast RegionSmall Area Estimation | $22.71 | $29.34 | $33.97 | 2024 |
| Northeast RegionSmall Area Estimation | $23.63 | $27.14 | $32.55 | 2024 |
| Thompson–Okanagan RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $29.00 | $32.75 | $37.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Vancouver Island and Coast RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $29.00 | $31.00 | $37.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Interlake RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.09 | $23.49 | $26.53 | 2024 |
| North Central RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| North RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Parklands RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| South Central RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.62 | $25.70 | $28.43 | 2024 |
| Southeast RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Southwest RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $18.00 | $23.34 | $40.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Winnipeg RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $22.00 | $27.00 | $31.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Campbellton–Miramichi RegionSmall Area Estimation | $19.62 | $22.80 | $23.61 | 2024 |
| Edmundston–Woodstock RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.37 | $22.10 | $24.76 | 2024 |
| Fredericton–OromoctoSmall Area Estimation | $20.35 | $23.28 | $28.05 | 2024 |
| Moncton–Richibucto RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $22.00 | $25.00 | $26.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Saint John–St. Stephen RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.97 | $24.58 | $29.51 | 2024 |
| Avalon Peninsula RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $18.00 | $22.00 | $27.67 | 2023-2024 |
| Notre Dame-Central-Bonavista Bay RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| South Coast–Burin Peninsula RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.28 | $22.13 | $24.22 | 2024 |
| West Coast–Northern Peninsula–Labrador RegionSmall Area Estimation | $19.40 | $22.37 | $27.80 | 2024 |
| Annapolis Valley RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.60 | $23.82 | $30.29 | 2024 |
| Cape Breton RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $20.00 | $23.00 | $29.50 | 2023-2024 |
| Halifax RegionSmall Area Estimation | $21.12 | $24.73 | $30.78 | 2024 |
| North Shore RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.09 | $23.18 | $27.64 | 2024 |
| Southern RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.50 | $23.48 | $25.62 | 2024 |
| Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $18.00 | $27.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Kingston–Pembroke RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $25.00 | $25.00 | $31.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $25.00 | $28.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 |
| London RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $23.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Muskoka–Kawarthas RegionSmall Area Estimation | $22.93 | $25.07 | $34.56 | 2024 |
| Northeast RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $18.00 | $25.88 | $32.70 | 2023-2024 |
| Northwest RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $20.00 | $25.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Ottawa RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $21.00 | $29.00 | $35.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Stratford–Bruce Peninsula RegionSmall Area Estimation | $20.71 | $25.28 | $30.17 | 2024 |
| Toronto RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $18.00 | $25.00 | $34.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Windsor-Sarnia RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $22.00 | $26.00 | $34.40 | 2023-2024 |
| Abitibi-Témiscamingue RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Bas-Saint-Laurent RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $20.75 | $25.00 | $29.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Capitale-Nationale RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $23.00 | $27.00 | $31.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Centre-du-Québec RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $21.00 | $24.00 | $28.40 | 2023-2024 |
| Chaudière-Appalaches RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $22.50 | $26.25 | $31.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Côte-Nord RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Estrie RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $20.00 | $25.00 | $29.73 | 2023-2024 |
| Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Lanaudière RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $22.00 | $26.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Laurentides RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $22.00 | $26.25 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Laval RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $21.00 | $26.00 | $31.37 | 2023-2024 |
| Mauricie RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $21.25 | $25.00 | $29.52 | 2023-2024 |
| Montréal RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $20.00 | $25.00 | $30.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Montérégie RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $22.00 | $26.00 | $31.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Nord-du-Québec RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
| Outaouais RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $24.00 | $28.13 | $34.84 | 2023-2024 |
| Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean RegionEmployment Insurance Survey Data | $19.00 | $23.66 | $28.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Northern RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $21.00 | $30.00 | $34.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Prince Albert RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $21.00 | $30.00 | $34.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Regina–Moose Mountain RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $25.00 | $32.50 | $40.00 | 2023-2024 |
| Saskatoon–Biggar RegionLabour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | $19.00 | $29.00 | $35.25 | 2023-2024 |
| Swift Current–Moose Jaw RegionSmall Area Estimation | $21.28 | $27.65 | $30.25 | 2024 |
| Yorkton–Melville RegionNo estimate reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | — |
Source: Job Bank regional wage table · Wage update 2025-11-19 · All amounts in CAD. A regional wage describes the published area, not a particular employer or job offer.
Understanding these wages
The national median for dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants is $27.00 an hour. Among the provinces and territories with published estimates, Alberta has the highest median at $32.00; Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest at $22.00. A median is unavailable in 3 provinces or territories.
Explore healthcare wagesThe median wage
The median is the middle wage when wages are ordered from lowest to highest. Job Bank’s low and high figures usually represent the 10th and 90th percentiles. They are not junior and senior salary bands.
Annual pay calculation
Hourly wage × paid hours per week × paid weeks per year. Monthly pay is the annual result divided by 12. It is a calculation for the schedule you enter, not a reported annual salary or take-home pay.
Source data and dates
Job Bank occupation 33100: Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants. The annual update is dated 2025-11-19. Job Bank also adjusts wage estimates between releases to reflect changes in provincial or territorial minimum wages. Each row keeps its own data period; some estimates use a different source or method.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Job Bank does not report a wage estimate for this geography.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Job Bank does not report a wage estimate for this geography.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Employment Insurance Survey Data. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada. Reference period: 2023-2024.
Job Bank does not report a wage estimate for this geography.
Getting ready for your move
Explore our guides to arriving in Canada, choosing a phone plan and getting connected.