Salary comparison
Dental Assistants: Minneapolis vs Seattle
Minneapolis, MN pays about 16.7% more for dental assistants on paper — $72,370 vs $62,040. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Minneapolis comes out ahead by $10,330 a year in real buying power.
Minneapolis, MN
$72,370
$63,050
$75,560
$34.79
100
$72,370/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Seattle, WA
$62,040
$49,370
$63,070
$29.83
100
$62,040/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $10,330 a year (16.7%) in favor of Minneapolis. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Minneapolis runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Seattle sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Minneapolis is the better deal by $10,330 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Seattle to Minneapolis for this role, the raise needs to beat 16.7% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do dental assistants earn more, Minneapolis or Seattle?
Minneapolis pays $72,370 on median — about 16.7% more than Seattle ($62,040). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Minneapolis. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Minneapolis gives you roughly$72,370 of real buying power versus $62,040 in the other city.