"How long does it take to become a dental assistant in Nebraska?"

"The primary Nebraska license requires approximately 1,500 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.8 years of full-time work."

"Do dental assistants need a license in Nebraska?"

"Yes. Nebraska requires state-level licensing or registration for dental assistants, administered by the Nebraska Dept. of Health \u0026 Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for dental assistants in Nebraska?"

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Dental Assistant in Nebraska

Q: "How much do dental assistants earn in Nebraska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), dental assistants in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $46,660."

Q: "What is the job outlook for dental assistants in Nebraska?"

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 2,520 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Nebraska employs approximately 2,520 dental assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,660 ¹. Nationally, dental assistant employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 52,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a dental assistant in Nebraska, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Dental Assistant in Nebraska

How do I become a dental assistant in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Dental Assistant, Licensed, Dental Hygienist. The licensing authority is the Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 1,500 hours of experience (roughly 0.8 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska has licensing or registration requirements for dental assistants. The Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do dental assistants earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for dental assistants in Nebraska is $46,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,810 and experienced professionals can earn $57,430 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit
Median wage (Nebraska): $46,660 per year ¹

Dental Assistant License Requirements in Nebraska

The Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit oversees dental assistant licensing in Nebraska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Dental Assistant, Licensed	Occupational Description Dental assistants working in a dental office may either continue working in an unlicensed status orpursue a license as a dental assistant professional.
Dental Hygienist	Occupational Description Dental Hygienists clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Dental Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

Dental Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), dental assistants wages in Nebraska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	1,150	$48,020	$48,260	$39,720	$59,570
Lincoln	580	$48,440	$47,950	$38,970	$57,560
Sioux City	190	$48,590	$51,060	$39,530	$59,660
Grand Island	100	$46,910	$46,470	$39,850	$55,880

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Dental assistants in Nebraska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest dental assistant employment within Nebraska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	1,150	$48,020
Lincoln	580	$48,440
Grand Island	100	$46,910

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for dental assistants in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 2,520 dental assistants ¹. Nationally, dental assistant employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a dental assistant in Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Nebraska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Nebraska.

How much do dental assistants earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for dental assistants in Nebraska is $46,660, which is $640 below the national median of $47,300 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Nebraska Dept. of Health & Human Services - Public Health Licensure Unit - Licensing Information: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/acupuncture.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)