How much money does a dental assistant make (per year or per hour)? Furthermore, what does a dental assistant actually do on a daily basis, and what are the education requirements to become a dental assistant? I’ll address these questions in this article (and video), which is a continuation of a series on other salaries within the healthcare industry.
Dental assistants have many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x-rays to record keeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.
Dental assistants typically do the following tasks:
- Work with patients to make them comfortable in the dental chair and to prepare them for treatments and procedures
- Sterilize dental instruments
- Prepare the work area for patient treatment by setting out instruments and materials
- Help dentists by handing them instruments during procedures
- Keep patients’ mouths dry by using suction hoses and other equipment
- Instruct patients in proper dental hygiene
- Process x rays and complete lab tasks, under the direction of a dentist
- Keep records of dental treatments
- Schedule patient appointments
- Work with patients on billing and payment
Education Requirements to Become a Dental Assistant
High school students interested in a career as a dental assistant should take courses in biology, chemistry, and anatomy. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass a state exam. Most programs are offered by community colleges, take about 1 year to complete, and lead to a certificate or diploma. Programs that last 2 years, also offered in community colleges, are less common and lead to an associate’s degree.
Some states require dental assistants to be certified; requirements vary by state. To obtain certification, dental assistants must pass the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam from the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB). To take the exam, dental assistants must either have graduated from an accredited program or have a high school diploma, and complete the required amount of on-the-job training. Applicants must also have current certification in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Accredited programs include classroom and laboratory work in which students learn about teeth, gums, jaws, and other areas that dentists work on and the instruments that dentists use. These programs also include supervised, practical experience.
Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 25 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Average Salary and Wages for a Dental Assistant
| Employment | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage |
| 314,330 | $17.43 | $36,260 |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $11.82 | $14.07 | $17.02 | $20.58 | $23.82 |
| Annual Wage | $24,580 | $29,260 | $35,390 | $42,810 | $49,540 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Dentists | 287,100 | $17.44 | $36,270 |
| Offices of Physicians | 6,360 | $16.19 | $33,670 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 3,880 | $18.97 | $39,460 |
| Employment Services | 3,740 | $17.30 | $35,990 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 3,220 | $17.19 | $35,760 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 120 | $19.50 | $40,550 |
| Insurance Carriers | 40 | $19.41 | $40,370 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 1,470 | $19.16 | $39,850 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 3,880 | $18.97 | $39,460 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 1,970 | $17.93 | $37,300 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| New Hampshire | 1,310 | $21.43 | $44,580 |
| Alaska | 980 | $20.94 | $43,550 |
| Minnesota | 5,460 | $20.75 | $43,160 |
| Massachusetts | 7,200 | $20.00 | $41,590 |
| North Dakota | 690 | $19.71 | $40,990 |
Lowest Paying States:
| Utah | 13.78 | 28,670 |
| West Virginia | 14.08 | 29,280 |
| Louisiana | 14.34 | 29,830 |
Average Salary for Dental Assistants by State
| State: | Average Hourly Wage | Average Salary | Median Salary |
| Alabama | 14.73 | 30,650 | 29,850 |
| Alaska | 20.94 | 43,550 | 43,590 |
| Arizona | 17.70 | 36,830 | 35,540 |
| Arkansas | 15.14 | 31,490 | 31,200 |
| California | 18.32 | 38,100 | 36,630 |
| Colorado | 18.87 | 39,250 | 37,500 |
| Connecticut | 19.61 | 40,790 | 40,620 |
| Delaware | 18.15 | 37,750 | 38,320 |
| District of Columbia | 18.24 | 37,930 | 35,450 |
| Florida | 16.88 | 35,100 | 34,620 |
| Georgia | 16.64 | 34,600 | 34,000 |
| Guam | 13.59 | 28,270 | 25,170 |
| Hawaii | 16.58 | 34,480 | 34,000 |
| Idaho | 15.93 | 33,130 | 33,190 |
| Illinois | 17.21 | 35,800 | 35,650 |
| Indiana | 17.30 | 35,980 | 35,390 |
| Iowa | 17.66 | 36,740 | 36,250 |
| Kansas | 17.87 | 37,170 | 35,520 |
| Kentucky | 16.02 | 33,320 | 32,990 |
| Louisiana | 14.34 | 29,830 | 29,500 |
| Maine | 18.37 | 38,210 | 37,160 |
| Maryland | 18.60 | 38,690 | 38,570 |
| Massachusetts | 20.00 | 41,590 | 41,480 |
| Michigan | 16.50 | 34,330 | 34,150 |
| Minnesota | 20.75 | 43,160 | 42,910 |
| Mississippi | 14.92 | 31,030 | 29,270 |
| Missouri | 16.53 | 34,380 | 33,300 |
| Montana | 15.97 | 33,210 | 33,230 |
| Nebraska | 15.87 | 33,010 | 32,630 |
| Nevada | 17.24 | 35,870 | 35,660 |
| New Hampshire | 21.43 | 44,580 | 43,910 |
| New Jersey | 19.11 | 39,740 | 39,600 |
| New Mexico | 15.31 | 31,840 | 32,060 |
| New York | 17.09 | 35,550 | 34,690 |
| North Carolina | 18.40 | 38,270 | 37,190 |
| North Dakota | 19.71 | 40,990 | 38,260 |
| Ohio | 17.26 | 35,890 | 34,980 |
| Oklahoma | 15.21 | 31,630 | 30,850 |
| Oregon | 19.67 | 40,920 | 39,560 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.22 | 33,750 | 32,900 |
| Puerto Rico | 8.53 | 17,740 | 17,740 |
| Rhode Island | 17.18 | 35,730 | 36,160 |
| South Carolina | 16.71 | 34,760 | 34,450 |
| South Dakota | 15.61 | 32,480 | 32,150 |
| Tennessee | 16.66 | 34,650 | 34,600 |
| Texas | 16.44 | 34,190 | 33,580 |
| Utah | 13.78 | 28,670 | 28,050 |
| Vermont | 18.68 | 38,860 | 38,060 |
| Virgin Islands | 14.49 | 30,150 | 28,460 |
| Virginia | 17.77 | 36,960 | 35,700 |
| Washington | 19.37 | 40,290 | 40,080 |
| West Virginia | 14.08 | 29,280 | 28,830 |
| Wisconsin | 17.26 | 35,900 | 35,730 |
| Wyoming | 16.12 | 33,540 | 32,980 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Dental Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.