Data published recently by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that over 287,780 dental assistants were working in the United States as of May 2024.  More than 51,500 dental assistants employed in May 2024 lived in the five-state Great Lakes region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Great Lakes region to be a relatively decent one for dental assistant pay, with only Illinois and Michigan lagging behind the national average.  Further examination of May 2024 BLS data shows the following about dental assistant pay in the Great Lakes region:

Dental Assistant Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	15,620	$47,170	27th
IN	6,250	$49,590	20th
MI	11,830	$45,990	32nd
OH	11,130	$50,960	14th
WI	6,720	$49,240	22nd
U.S.	287,780	$48,225	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 16, 2025