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

"Most paths into the dental assistant field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do dental assistants need a license in Utah?"

"Yes. Utah requires state-level licensing or registration for dental assistants, administered by the Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational \u0026 Professional Licensing. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Utah, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Workforce Services - Office of 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 Utah

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), dental assistants in Utah earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,760. Employment concentration in Utah is about 1.54 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Utah currently employs approximately 6,640 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

Utah dental assistants earn a median annual wage of $37,760 ($18.16/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,640 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -21.4% below the national median of $48,070 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $37,760 ($18.16/hr)
25th percentile: $36,400 per year
75th percentile: $45,770 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $47,680 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,380 per year
Workers employed in Utah: 6,640
Versus national median: -21.4% below the U.S. median of $48,070
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.54 - this occupation is more concentrated in Utah than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Utah employs approximately 6,640 dental assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,760 ¹. The state’s concentration of dental assistant jobs is 1.54x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Utah, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Dental Assistant in Utah

How do I become a dental assistant in Utah? Utah requires credentials such as DENTAL HYGIENIST. The licensing authority is the Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Utah? Yes. Utah has licensing or registration requirements for dental assistants. The Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do dental assistants earn in Utah? The median annual wage for dental assistants in Utah is $37,760 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,380 and experienced professionals can earn $47,680 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: Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing
Median wage (Utah): $37,760 per year ¹

Dental Assistant License Requirements in Utah

The Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing oversees dental assistant licensing in Utah ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
DENTAL HYGIENIST	A dental hygienist preserves health and prevents disease of teeth by cleaning and administering X- rays of the teeth, assisting dentist, educating patients, and the public.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Dental Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Utah

Dental Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Utah

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Salt Lake City-Murray	2,470	$38,330	$42,350	$36,620	$48,440
Provo-Orem-Lehi	1,640	$36,580	$40,000	$35,620	$46,270
Ogden	1,120	$37,300	$39,950	$31,700	$47,030
St. George	460	$36,350	$38,990	$30,490	$45,690
Logan	270	$35,680	$36,310	$30,330	$44,770

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 Utah

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Salt Lake City-Murray	2,470	$38,330
Provo-Orem-Lehi	1,640	$36,580
Ogden	1,120	$37,300
St. George	460	$36,350
Logan	270	$35,680

Explore More Trades in Utah

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for dental assistants in Utah? Utah currently employs approximately 6,640 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 Utah with an out-of-state license? Contact the Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do dental assistants earn in Utah compared to the national average? The median annual wage for dental assistants in Utah is $37,760, which is $9,540 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Utah Department of Commerece - Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing - Licensing Information: https://dopl.utah.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)