Dental Assistant Salary in Melbourne (2026)

Last updated

Dental Assistants in Melbourne earn a median salary of $64,220 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $55,000 and $74,100. That sits 29% below Melbourne's all-roles median of $90,000. Figures are based on 63 jobs advertised in Melbourne in the last 30 days.

▲ High demand Top 17% of roles by listing volume in Melbourne ↑ +1 listings vs last month
💰 Dental Assistant · Melbourne
ADVERTISED RANGE
$55,000 – $74,100
Median: $64,220
Jun $61k
Jul $64k
↑ Trending up

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

Mid level $55,000 – $74,100
Overall $55k–$74k Mid $55k–$74k $53k $57k $62k $67k $71k $76k
Moderate confidence 63 listings (+1 vs last month) · 02/08/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 63 job listings for this role and city, all sourced from Seek.com.au. Of those, 52.4% stated a salary directly. The remaining 47.6% 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.

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Bottom 10%  $55,000 Median  $64,220 $74,100  Top 10%

Understanding the Melbourne Market

At 28.6% below the city median this is the widest role-to-city gap in the Melbourne data, though that says more about Melbourne's $90,000 benchmark than about dental assisting. The median rose $2,470 to $64,000, still the lowest of the six markets in this data alongside Sydney. Listings were flat at 63 against 62. At 52% salary disclosure the figure is reasonably well supported.

Take Home Pay (based on median $64,220)

Weekly (net)
~$993
Monthly (net)
~$4,303
Annual (net)
~$51,634
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $71,605

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 Melbourne?
The floor is $55,000, covering trainee roles where the practice funds a Certificate III in Dental Assisting. Qualified assistants cluster between $62,000 and $65,000 nationally. Radiography licensing and implant or orthodontic experience are what move someone toward the $74,000 ceiling.
Is $64,220 a good salary in Melbourne?
No. At $64,000 the role sits 28.6% below Melbourne's all-roles median of $90,000, with take-home near $993 a week against the highest living costs in this report. Since every capital pays within $5,000 of this, the award rather than the city sets the figure. Melbourne is the hardest place in the country to live on it.
How much does a Senior Dental Assistant make in Melbourne?
The ceiling is $74,000, the lowest dental assistant ceiling of any city here. Practice management is the usual route beyond it, combining clinical assisting with billing and rostering. Oral health therapy and dental hygiene require further study but are the only paths that reset this range.

Other roles in Melbourne

Dental Assistant salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Melbourne
Melbourne (this page) $64,220 0%
Gold Coast $69,160 +8%
Adelaide $65,000 ~same
Brisbane $65,000 ~same
Perth $65,000 ~same

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Data sourced from publicly listed job advertisements. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Seek or any third-party platforms. Salary ranges represent advertised figures and may differ from actual compensation. Updated monthly.