Dental Assistant in Colorado

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CO. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$47,770

trending_up +1.0% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Colorado.

engineering

7,720

Jobs (CO)

monitoring Strong

+6.4%

10-yr job growth

schedule

On-the-job

Time to complete

route How to become a dental assistant in Colorado

In Colorado, dental assistants are not required to be state-licensed or certified for most duties. The Colorado Dental Board oversees dentists and dental hygienists, but not dental assistants directly. However, to perform radiography (take x-rays), dental assistants must be at least 18 years old and complete specific training, such as an 8.5-hour course approved by the Colorado Dental Board or passing the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam. Additionally, all dental assistants must possess current CPR certification.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $36,750

25th percentile $44,570

50th (median) $47,770

75th percentile $59,480

90th (experienced) $63,230

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Colorado. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Colorado requirements

Licensing body	Colorado Dental Board
State license	Not required
Education	High school diploma or GED equivalent; CPR certification. For radiography, specific training or DANB RHS exam is required.
Exam	DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam (for radiography only)
Notes	Colorado does not license, certify, or register dental assistants for most duties. The supervising dentist is responsible for ensuring the assistant is competent. To expose x-rays, dental assistants must be at least 18 years old and meet specific education/training requirements in radiography, which can include an 8.5-hour course (3.5 hours lecture, 5 hours clinical) or passing the DANB RHS exam. CPR certification is also a state mandate for dental assistants. The EDDA (Expanded Duties Dental Assistant) designation is not recognized by the Colorado Dental Board.

Source: Colorado Dental Board

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+6.4%

Faster than average

Annual openings

52,900

Nationwide per year

Total employment

381,900

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -0.53/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+6.4%)
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

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Frequently asked questions

How do I become a dental assistant in Colorado? expand_more

Colorado requires dental assistants to complete the required education (High school diploma or GED equivalent; CPR certification. For radiography, specific training or DANB RHS exam is required.), and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam (for radiography only).

Is a state license required for dental assistants in Colorado? expand_more

Colorado does not require a state license for dental assistants. Note: Colorado does not license, certify, or register dental assistants for most duties. The supervising dentist is responsible for ensuring the assistant is competent. To expose x-rays, dental assistants must be at least 18 years old and meet specific education/training requirements in radiography, which can include an 8.5-hour course (3.5 hours lecture, 5 hours clinical) or passing the DANB RHS exam. CPR certification is also a state mandate for dental assistants. The EDDA (Expanded Duties Dental Assistant) designation is not recognized by the Colorado Dental Board.

What is the average dental assistant salary in Colorado? expand_more

Colorado dental assistants bring home a median salary of $47,770. This is close to the national median of $47,300. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $36,750, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $63,230.

How many months or years does dental assistant certification take in Colorado? expand_more

Expect to spend On-the-job from start to finish in Colorado — covering coursework, supervised experience, and examination.