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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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

  • 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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

  • 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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

  • 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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

  • 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 Salary Guide

  • 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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

  • 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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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

Where Can I Find Dental Assistants Training In ? 2020 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

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 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

Job Title Company Location Date Posted Federal Contractor
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Kodiak Area Native Association Kodiak, Alaska 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Springfield, Missouri 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant MLK HERITAGE HEALTH CENTER MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant North American Dental Group Toledo, Ohio 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant North American Dental Group Southfield, Michigan 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Detroit, Michigan 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant Midwest Dental Farmington, New Mexico 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant DENTAL ASSOCIATES WAUKESHA, Wisconsin 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant Emergency Dental Care CENTENNIAL, Colorado 08/04/2020 No
Dental Assistant Midwest Dental Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 08/04/2020 No

Dental Assistants Job Openings. 2020 Dental Assistants Salary Guide

57 United States

Location

Toledo, OH Springfield, MO Palm Desert (South), CA Fargo, ND Westland, MI Waukesha, WI Watertown, NY Virtual, USA The Villages, FL Tampa/West Coast Market, FL Southfield, MI Seekonk, MA Seattle, WA Scott Afb, IL Saline, MI Romulus, MI Rockford, IL Port Richey, FL Perrysburg, OH Oswego, NY Orlando (Waterford Lakes), FL Niskayuna, NY Mount Prospect, IL Mount Airy, NC Milwaukee, WI Miami, FL Manchester, CT Lexington, NC Kodiak, AK Kerman, CA Kansas City (State Ave), KS Joplin, MO Houston, TX Hillsdale, MI Fort Benning, GA Farmington, NM Euless, TX Detroit, MI Dedham, MA Dania Beach, FL Clarksburg, WV Chippewa Falls, WI Charleston, WV Centennial, CO Brighton, MA Birmingham (Trussville), AL Belleville, MI Barboursville, WV Athens, AL Appleton-North, WI Ann Arbor, MI Amherst, NH Alliance, OH
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Company

Aspen Dental North American Dental Group Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Midwest Dental Western Dental/Brident Aerotek Air Mobility Command DENTAL ASSOCIATES Dental Associates Emergency Dental Care Envista Holdings Corporation Gaston Family Health Services Georgia Employer King County Washington Kodiak Area Native Association MLK HERITAGE HEALTH CENTER Mercy Medical Center Clinton My Community Dental Centers Inc United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley
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 Dental Assistant (CDA)
Kodiak Area Native Association
Kodiak, Alaska
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Springfield, Missouri
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
MLK HERITAGE HEALTH CENTER
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
North American Dental Group
Toledo, Ohio
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
North American Dental Group
Southfield, Michigan
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Detroit, Michigan
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
Midwest Dental
Farmington, New Mexico
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
DENTAL ASSOCIATES
WAUKESHA, Wisconsin
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
Emergency Dental Care
CENTENNIAL, Colorado
08/04/2020
No
Dental Assistant
Midwest Dental
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
08/04/2020
No
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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