Dental Assistants, Columbia

$46,800

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Columbia, SC. Middle half of wages roughly $41,400 to $49,420.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median
−2.6%
US median
$48,070
Metro RPP
93.7
Middle half
$41,400 to $49,420
OEWS employment
860
SOC
31-9091

Dental Assistants in Columbia pay a median $46,800 (May 2025), 2.6% below the US median of $48,070. At local prices (RPP 93.7), that median buys about what $49,947 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$46,800 in Columbia buys about what $49,947 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 93.7, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 79.5 vs all-items 93.7 (US = 100, 2024).

Dental Assistants in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
Columbia $46,800 $41,400 to $49,420 93.7
Cleveland $47,800 $42,130 to $77,100 93.9
San Francisco $64,390 $58,760 to $73,010 115.6
Tulsa $46,510 $37,630 to $48,160 89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Dental Assistants in Columbia?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Dental Assistants in Columbia, SC is $46,800.
How does Columbia pay compare to the US median for Dental Assistants?
Local median pay is 2.6% below the national OEWS median of $48,070.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for Columbia is 93.7 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $46,800 has about the same purchasing power as $49,947 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

  • BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
  • BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
  • Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

  • Federal, state, or local income taxes
  • Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
  • Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.