What a dental assistant earns depends on certification, intra-oral or Level II duties, specialty experience, and region. The table below shows the official Job Bank hourly wage band by province for 2026.
These are hourly low-to-high bands from Job Bank Canada, classified under NOC 33100 (Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants), updated November 19, 2025. The national median is $27.00 per hour.
| Province | Hourly low to high |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $24.00 to $38.00 |
| British Columbia | $24.00 to $36.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $22.00 to $37.00 |
| Ontario | $20.00 to $34.00 |
| Manitoba | $22.00 to $33.76 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 to $32.00 |
| Quebec | $21.00 to $30.16 |
| New Brunswick | $22.00 to $30.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.00 to $30.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $18.92 to $26.00 |
The territories are not shown because Job Bank does not publish a band for this occupation in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Yukon.
What drives the spread
- NDAEB certification and provincial registration where required
- Intra-oral or Level II certification for expanded chairside duties
- Specialty experience in orthodontics, pediatrics, or oral surgery
- Regional demand and cost of living, with the western provinces at the higher end
Reading the ranges
These bands cover NOC 33100, the dental assistant occupation, distinct from the dental hygienist profession. New assistants sit near the floor. Certified assistants with intra-oral duties and specialty experience sit toward the top, especially in the western provinces.
Sources: Job Bank Canada provincial wage data (NOC 33100, updated November 19, 2025) and Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.
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