How Much Are Dental Assistants Paid?


Becoming a dental assistant is a great career choice. This field is expected to grow over the next few years so you are almost guaranteed a job if you complete the necessary training. In fact, many offices will train you on the job, yet your pay may increase if you are a certified dental assistant. This is a great career if you know what to expect and what you will be required to do and, as the median hourly rate for a dental assistant is $13.62 an hour, Dental Assistant Pay is well above the minimum wage in most parts of our country.

When looking at dental assistant pay there are many variables you need to consider. The national hourly rate is $11.56 to $16.50 an hour, yet some places may start you at just $10 an hour. Factor in overtime which runs, on average, $15.11 to $23.75 an hour and this can be a lucrative career. Many offices give bonuses which can range from $200.36 to $979 and commission is offered by others in the range of $102.79 to $1167. If profit sharing is a benefit offered by your employer, this may be in the range of $505 to $2162. Take all of this into consideration and you can make anywhere from $24,265 to $35,201 all without the benefit of a college education. Also consider your location as some areas do pay considerably more than others. Yet, you would also need to look at the cost of living in that area.

Other factors which should be considered in your decision include benefits and paid time off. When looking at benefits, 37% of dental offices offer medical insurance while 44% offer dental. Vision is a perk at 11% of practices although 40% do not offer any benefits at all. Be sure to determine this before committing to a practice or office. Almost all do offer paid vacation days as well as paid holidays and sick days, a nice add-on to your dental assistant pay package.

As a dental assistant you will perform a variety of tasks. These may range from patient care to office sanitation. Also, you will help the dentist and hygienist provide quality care for all who enter the office and you may perform lab duties in your daily tasks. Be advised the dental assistants do not clean teeth. This is the job of the hygienist and your only job will be to offer assistance when needed. This must be considered when looking at dental assistant pay as a whole.

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