Dental Assistant Salary in Adelaide (2026)

Last updated 02/08/2026

Dental Assistants in Adelaide earn a median salary of $65,000 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $55,000 and $80,000. That sits 19% below Adelaide's all-roles median of $80,028. Figures are based on 42 jobs advertised in Adelaide in the last 30 days.

▲ High demand Top 23% of roles by listing volume in Adelaide ↑ +1 listings vs last month

ADVERTISED RANGE

$55,000 – $80,000

Median: $65,000

Jun $60k

Jul $65k

↑ Trending up

Based on 2-month data, short-term movement only.

Mid level

$55,000 – $80,000

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 42 job listings for this role and city, all sourced from Seek.com.au. Of those, 23.3% stated a salary directly. The remaining 76.7% carried a range estimated from the listing, so this median blends advertised and estimated pay. Figures represent what employers advertise and may differ from actual compensation. Fewer than a quarter of these listings stated a salary, so the median leans heavily on estimates.

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Bottom 10% $55,000 Median $65,000 $80,000 Top 10%

Understanding the Adelaide Market

Dental assistants are one of the few roles where Adelaide pays more than Sydney, $65,000 against $64,000, and that holds against Melbourne and Perth too. The reason is that dental assisting is priced off a national award rather than local market rates, so the nominal figure barely moves between cities while living costs do. Listing volume was flat at 42 against 41 in June, making this one of the steadiest categories in the city. The median rose $5,000, though with only 23% of listings stating a salary that shift is soft.

Take Home Pay (based on median $65,000)

Weekly (net)

~$1,003

Monthly (net)

~$4,344

Annual (net)

~$52,133

Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $72,475

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Dental Assistant in Adelaide?

The floor is $55,000, which covers trainee and unqualified assistant roles where the practice funds a Certificate III. Once qualified, most listings sit between $62,000 and $65,000. Radiography licensing and experience with implant or orthodontic procedures are what move someone toward the top of the range.

Is $65,000 a good salary in Adelaide?

Not by the numbers, but the comparison matters. At $65,000 the role sits 18.8% below Adelaide's all-roles median of $80,000, with take-home around $1,003 a week. Against other cities it holds up unusually well, since Sydney and Melbourne pay $64,000 for identical work at far higher housing costs. Within Adelaide healthcare it is the lowest band: registered nursing pays $95,000 and occupational therapy $102,000.

How much does a Senior Dental Assistant make in Adelaide?

There is no separate senior band here, so $80,000 at the top of the range is the ceiling. Practice management is the usual route, combining clinical assisting with rostering, billing and compliance. Some assistants move into dental hygiene or oral health therapy instead, which requires further study but resets the range well above this one.

Other roles in Adelaide

Dental Assistant salaries in other cities

City	Median salary	vs Adelaide
Adelaide (this page)	$65,000	0%
Gold Coast	$69,160	+6%
Brisbane	$65,000	~same
Perth	$65,000	~same
Melbourne	$64,220	~same

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