Dental Assistant Salary

By allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 12th, 2010

What kind of salary do dental assistants make?

The rate of pay for dental assistants can range a great deal depending on the office, but it is typically somewhere between $10-21 an hour. New hires are typically at the lower end of that range, while very specialized assistants with many years of experience are on the higher end. Certified dental assistants receive greater pay than those who are trained on the job.

Learn more about how to become a dental assistant.

Is this a high demand field?

If you are already trained as a dental assistant, there is a high demand for your expertise. Because there are not many certified dental assistants available, many offices are willing to hire someone and train them. But earning your dental assistant certificate provides you with a competitive edge for employment and the ability to earn a greater salary. According to the BLS, employment in this field is expected to grow at 29 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is a faster rate than most jobs. Population growth and a heightened focus on health and preventative dental care are key to the growth of this profession.

Learn more about the opportunties available to those individuals interested in dental assistant training.

Is there room for advancement in this field?

Advancement opportunities in this field are not common. However, oftentimes dental assistants further their education to become dental hygienists to secure better pay. Other dental assistants become dental product sales representatives or office managers. Teaching dental assistant classes at a community college would be another option for a job change in this field.

How many dental assistants later become hygienists?

Dental assistants estimate that 25% of their peers move on to become dental hygienists. The other 75% typically remains working as dental assistants because they enjoy those job tasks more than that of a hygienist or because hygiene school is so intense.