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Dental Assistant Salary | How Much Money Does a Dental Assistant Make?

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.

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