Dental Assistant Pay

Become a Dental Assistant not only prepares you for a wonderful career working in the dental field, is also pays very well. Because this area of employment should be one of the most in demand over the next six years, your chances of getting a good job with good pay and benefits is likely.

The median hourly wage for dental assistants is $ 13.62. This is well above the minimum wage established in most states. In addition to a great hourly wage, many Dental Assistants will receive bonuses if the dental practice is doing well, health insurance and reduced dental procedures. Almost all dental assistants receive paid vacation days, sick leave and paid holidays.

However, gaining such a high hourly wage comes with a great level of responsibility. Dental assistants perform duties related to patient care, sanitation office, laboratory functions, and assist the dentist and hygienist with a variety of procedures. Dental Assistants need to be vigilant, pay attention to detail, and possess effective communication skills. They must also be able to provide patients with comfort measures both before and after procedures are completed.

Dental Assistants are easily confused with Dental Hygienists. Compared to hygienists, who have a median wage of $ 23.65 an hour, a dental assistant is not a very good hourly wage. However, they are very different professions. A dental assistant comes only assists the dentist and hygienist to provide the best quality care for all patients. The hygienist takes care of cleaning teeth and generally has a steady stream of patients who come every six months for routine cleaning procedures.

The salary of a dental assistant earns depends on many factors. The cost of living in your area will be the greatest influence. Revenue for the dental office you work generates also be a decisive factor. New dentists may have to pay less than established dentists will clientele because they do not traffic entering the office. However, it is very possible your salary will increase as more patients are attracted to the dental office.

Your level of experience will also be taken into consideration. You may have to accept a job that pays less than average to get your foot in the door and gain practical experience. However, demand for dental assistants, you should have no problem getting a job. Many dental offices want to keep the quality of dental assistants. They may begin to offer a lower entry level pay, provided that your performance will be reviewed in 90 days or other periods. Based on your performance, you pay will be adjusted at that time.

It is important to understand that certified dental assistants and complete the same types of duties. However, those who are certified earn a few dollars more per hour than those who are not certified. Therefore, it makes sense to the certification exam at the beginning of your career as a dental assistant.