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2020 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.

Dental Assistants Salary

Salary

$40.1K

Growth

11%

Bright Outlook

Bright

Green

No

What Do Dental Assistants Do?

Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.

Also known as:

Orthodontic Technician, Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Surgical Dental Assistant, Oral Surgery Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant), Expanded Function Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)

How Much Do Dental Assistants Make ? 2020

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90%
Annual Wage $27,980 $33,440 $40,080 $48,550 $56,930
Hourly Wage $13.45 $16.08 $19.27 $23.34 $27.37

How Much Do Dental Assistants Make ? 2020

Percentile
10%
25%
50% (Median)
75%
90%
Annual Wage
$27,980
$33,440
$40,080
$48,550
$56,930
Hourly Wage
$13.45
$16.08
$19.27
$23.34
$27.37

What Tasks Do Dental Assistants Perform? 2020

  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Record treatment information in patient records.
  • Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
  • Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
  • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
  • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
  • Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
  • Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
  • Clean teeth, using dental instruments.
  • Fabricate and fit orthodontic appliances and materials for patients, such as retainers, wires, or bands.
  • Fabricate temporary restorations or custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
  • Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
  • Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
  • Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
  • Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
  • Clean and polish removable appliances.
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What Activities Do Dental Assistants Do? 2020

  • Clean medical equipment.
  • Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
  • Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Operate medical equipment.
  • Interview patients to gather medical information.
  • Record vital statistics or other health information.
  • Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
  • Explain technical medical information to patients.
  • Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
  • Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Fit patients for assistive devices.
  • Make patient-assistive devices or device models.
  • Make patient-assistive devices or device models.
  • Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Process medical billing information.
  • Make patient-assistive devices or device models.
  • Make patient-assistive devices or device models.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Clean medical equipment.
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Typical Dental Assistants Knowledge? 2020

  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

What Are Typical Dental Assistants Abilities? 2020

  • Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
  • Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
  • Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
  • Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
  • Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.

What Are Typical Dental Assistants Skills? 2020

  • Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  • Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
  • Speaking - Talking to others.

What Are Typical Dental Assistants Interests? 2020

  • Conventional - Occupations related to Conventional interests frequently involve following set procedures and routines. They include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • Social - Occupations with Social interests frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. Most involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

What Is The Projected Employment For Dental Assistants ? 2020

Location 2018 Employment 2028 Employment Percent change Annual projected job openings
United States 346,000 384,700 11% 44,800

What Is The Projected Employment For Dental Assistants ? 2020

Location
2018 Employment
2028 Employment
Percent change
Annual projected job openings
United States
346,000
384,700
11%
44,800

What Is The Required Dental Assistants Education & Experience? 2020

  • Postsecondary certificate
  • No work experience
  • No on-the-job training

Where Can I Find Dental Assistants Training In ? 2020

School Program Name Location Length / Graduates
Abdill Career College Inc Dental Assisting/Assistant Medford, OR Less than one year: 3
Academy of Careers and Technology Dental Assisting/Assistant Beckley, WV At least one but less than two years: 2
Advantage Career Institute Dental Assisting/Assistant Eatontown, NJ Less than one year: 71
Aiken Technical College Dental Assisting/Assistant Graniteville, SC At least one but less than two years: 9
Alamance Community College Dental Assisting/Assistant Graham, NC At least one but less than two years: 36
Albany Technical College Dental Assisting/Assistant Albany, GA At least one but less than two years: 18
All-State Career School-Allied Health Campus Dental Assisting/Assistant Essington, PA At least one but less than two years: 33
All-State Career-Baltimore Dental Assisting/Assistant Baltimore, MD At least one but less than two years: 24
Allan Hancock College Dental Assisting/Assistant Santa Maria, CA 2 years: 12
At least one but less than two years: 24
Less than one year: 0
Altierus Career College-Bissonnet Dental Assisting/Assistant Houston, TX At least one but less than two years: 48

Where Can I Find Dental Assistants Training In ? 2020

627 United States

Location

California (83) Florida (43) Texas (38) Ohio (36) Michigan (25) Pennsylvania (22) North Carolina (19) Georgia (18) Arizona (17) Tennessee (17) Washington (15) Colorado (14) Indiana (14) New Jersey (14) New York (14) Oklahoma (14) Wisconsin (14) Minnesota (13) Oregon (13) Louisiana (12) Illinois (11) Virginia (11) West Virginia (11) Alabama (10) South Carolina (10) Iowa (9) Massachusetts (9) Missouri (9) Nevada (9) Connecticut (8) Mississippi (8) New Mexico (8) Maryland (7) Puerto Rico (7) Utah (7) Idaho (5) Kentucky (5) Nebraska (5) Arkansas (4) Kansas (4) Alaska (2) Delaware (2) Montana (2) Rhode Island (2) South Dakota (2) Hawaii (1) Maine (1) New Hampshire (1) North Dakota (1) Wyoming (1)
More

Program Name

Dental Assisting/Assistant (625) Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage (1) Medical/Clinical Assistant (1)
More

Program Length

At least one but less than two years (464) Less than one year (187) 2 years (143) At least two but less than four years (6) 4 years (1)
More
School
Program Name
Location
Length / Graduates
Abdill Career College Inc
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Medford, OR
Less than one year: 3
Academy of Careers and Technology
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Beckley, WV
At least one but less than two years: 2
Advantage Career Institute
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Eatontown, NJ
Less than one year: 71
Aiken Technical College
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Graniteville, SC
At least one but less than two years: 9
Alamance Community College
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Graham, NC
At least one but less than two years: 36
Albany Technical College
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Albany, GA
At least one but less than two years: 18
All-State Career School-Allied Health Campus
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Essington, PA
At least one but less than two years: 33
All-State Career-Baltimore
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Baltimore, MD
At least one but less than two years: 24
Allan Hancock College
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Santa Maria, CA
2 years: 12
At least one but less than two years: 24
Less than one year: 0
Altierus Career College-Bissonnet
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Houston, TX
At least one but less than two years: 48
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Dental Assistants Job Openings. 2020

Job Title Company Location Date Posted Federal Contractor
Certified Orthodontic Assistant 77356 ROSEMARIE MIDDLETON DDS MIDDLETON ORTHODONTICS Montgomery, Texas 10/19/2020 No
Dental Assistant 77471 ROSENBERG DENTAL GROUP PLLC ROSENBERG, Texas 10/19/2020 No
Dental Assistant (General Dentistry Practice) Aspen Dental Bessemer, Alabama 10/19/2020 No
Dental Assistant (General Dentistry Practice) Aspen Dental Tucker (Dunwoody), Georgia 10/19/2020 No
Dental Assistant (General Dentistry Practice) Aspen Dental Bessemer, Alabama 10/19/2020 No
Oral Surgeon Assistant (Dental Practice) Aspen Dental Harrisburg/Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 10/19/2020 No
Oral Surgeon Assistant (Dental Practice) Aspen Dental Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 10/19/2020 No
Reception / Dental Assistant(RDA) - 77584 ANDREW WATKINS DDS Pearland, Texas 10/19/2020 No

Dental Assistants Job Openings. 2020

8 United States

Location

Bessemer, AL Tucker (Dunwoody), GA Rosenberg, TX Pearland, TX Montgomery, TX Harrisburg/Mechanicsburg, PA Chambersburg, PA
More

Company

Aspen Dental ANDREW WATKINS DDS ROSEMARIE MIDDLETON DDS MIDDLETON ORTHODONTICS ROSENBERG DENTAL GROUP PLLC
More

Date Posted

1 Day Back 3 Days Back 7 Days Back 14 Days Back
More
Job Title
Company
Location
Date Posted
Federal Contractor
Certified Orthodontic Assistant 77356
ROSEMARIE MIDDLETON DDS MIDDLETON ORTHODONTICS
Montgomery, Texas
10/19/2020
No
Dental Assistant 77471
ROSENBERG DENTAL GROUP PLLC
ROSENBERG, Texas
10/19/2020
No
Dental Assistant (General Dentistry Practice)
Aspen Dental
Bessemer, Alabama
10/19/2020
No
Dental Assistant (General Dentistry Practice)
Aspen Dental
Tucker (Dunwoody), Georgia
10/19/2020
No
Dental Assistant (General Dentistry Practice)
Aspen Dental
Bessemer, Alabama
10/19/2020
No
Oral Surgeon Assistant (Dental Practice)
Aspen Dental
Harrisburg/Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
10/19/2020
No
Oral Surgeon Assistant (Dental Practice)
Aspen Dental
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
10/19/2020
No
Reception / Dental Assistant(RDA) - 77584
ANDREW WATKINS DDS
Pearland, Texas
10/19/2020
No

Dental Assistants 2020 Salary Guide By State

Common Careers

Accountant
Anesthesiologist
Architect
Biomedical Engineer
Business Analyst
Chiropractor
Civil Engineer
CNA
Computer Engineer
Computer Science

Cyber Security
Data Analyst
Data Scientist
Dental Assistant
Dental Hygienist
Dentist
Dermatologist
Doctor
Electrical Engineer
Electrician

EMT
Financial Analyst
Firefighter
Flight Attendant
Graphic Designer
Interior Designer
Lawyer
LPN / LVN
Mechanical Engineer
Medical Assistant

Neurosurgeon
Nurse Anesthetist
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse – Critical Care
Occupational Therapist
Optometrist
Orthodontist
Orthotists / Prosthetists
Paralegal
Pediatrician

Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomist
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapy Assistant
Physician Assistant (PA)
Pilot
Police Officer
Project Manager
Psychiatrist

Psychologist
Radiologist
Real Estate Agent
Registered Nurse (RN)
Respiratory Therapist
Social Worker
Software Engineer
Surgical Tech
Teacher
Veterinarian