Dental Assistant Salary in Sydney (2026)

Last updated

Dental Assistants in Sydney earn a median salary of $66,250 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $55,000 and $79,904. That sits 30% below Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000. Figures are based on 72 jobs advertised in Sydney in the last 30 days.

▲ High demand Top 17% of roles by listing volume in Sydney ↑ +6 listings vs last month
💰 Dental Assistant · Sydney
ADVERTISED RANGE
$55,000 – $79,904
Median: $66,250
Aug $64k
Sep $66k
↑ Trending up

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

Mid level $55,000 – $79,232
Overall $55k–$79k Mid $55k–$79k $53k $59k $64k $70k $76k $82k
Moderate confidence 72 listings (+6 vs last month) · 30/09/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 72 job listings for this role and city, all sourced from Seek.com.au. Of those, 38.4% stated a salary directly. The remaining 61.6% 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  $66,250 $79,904  Top 10%

Understanding the Sydney Market

The median rose $2,030 to $66,000 with listings up from 66 to 72, placing Sydney second nationally behind Brisbane at $69,000, ahead of Adelaide and Perth at $65,000 and Melbourne at $64,000. The 38% spread running $55,000 to $79,000 is standard for award-linked clinical support work. At 38% salary disclosure the figure is moderately supported. Against Sydney's $95,000 city median it sits 30.3% short.

Take Home Pay (based on median $66,250)

Weekly (net)
~$1,018
Monthly (net)
~$4,411
Annual (net)
~$52,933
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $73,868

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 Sydney?
The floor is $55,000, covering trainee roles where the practice funds a Certificate III in Dental Assisting. Qualified assistants cluster between $65,000 and $69,000 nationally. Radiography licensing and implant or orthodontic experience are what move someone toward the $79,000 ceiling.
Is $66,250 a good salary in Sydney?
No. At $66,000 the role sits 30.3% below Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000, with take-home near $1,018 a week against the highest living costs in this report. Brisbane pays $3,000 more at a far lower cost base. Within Sydney healthcare it is near the bottom, alongside medical reception at $64,000.
How much does a Senior Dental Assistant make in Sydney?
The ceiling is $79,000, reached through practice management combining clinical assisting with billing, compliance and rostering. Oral health therapy and dental hygiene require further study but are the only paths that reset this range. Within assisting itself there is limited progression.

Other roles in Sydney

Dental Assistant salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Sydney
Sydney (this page) $66,250 0%
Brisbane $69,160 +4%
Adelaide $65,000 ~same
Perth $65,000 ~same
Melbourne $64,610 ~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.