If you are looking for a great job in healthcare that pays well and doesn’t require you to spend years in college, you should consider a career as a dental assistant. The need for good dental assistants is expected to rise significantly over the next ten years.
So if you decide to become a dental assistant what kind salary can you expect? Read on to uncover the answer to this question.
The Lowdown on Dental Assistant Salaries
There are many variables that affect the salary of a dental assistant. The type of dental practice you work in will affect the salary.
The region in which you live will affect your salary. But if you do your research, you can get the highest salary available for your practice setting and region.
The first thing you should take into consideration is certification. The Dental Assistant National Board Certified Assistant makes on the average $2.38 more on the hour over a non-DANB Certified Assistant. This is a great motivator to become certified. Certified dental assistants will be able to find a job a lot of easier than those who are not certified.
The type of practice that you work in will determine your salary. The average salary for a general dentistry office is $17.75. The highest paid certified dental assistants are those that work in pediatrics. These dental assistants will make on the average of $19.00 per hour.
The salary that a dental assistant makes can be determined by the years in the profession. The average salary for a dental assistant with zero to five years of experience is $15.00 per hour. The DANB Certified Assistant that has been in the profession for eleven to twenty years pulls in an average salary of $18.00 per hour.
A dental assistant salary can also be set by the type of office you choose to work in. A private practice office setting pays an average of $18.00 per hour. Working for a health department pays the lowest at $13.90 per hour. The highest paid DANB Certified Assistants are those that work in vocational programs. These dental assistants make an average of $21.00 per hour.
Region determines the salary of the dental assistant. For those that work in a rural area, the average salary is $18.00 per hour. A dental assistant that is employed in a metropolitan area can make $18.98 per hour.
If you are considering a career as a dental assistant, but are not sure if it is right for you it may be a good idea to shadow a certified dental assistant at a local dentist office for a day. This will give you a realistic view of the type of things you will be doing.
So as you can see, becoming a certified dental assistant is a wise career move. You may choose to complete your training in nine months and then take the certification exam. If you want to advance your career, you can get an associate’s degree in dental health. This will still allow you to become a certified dental assistant. But you will have more options when it comes to employment. You can work as a dental office manager or you may want to be a dental assistant instructor.
A dental assistant has plenty of opportunities for employment. You will be in high demand and have a stable career for many years to come.
When it comes to applying for jobs, education in dental assisting, such as the Penn Foster Career School Dental Assistant Program offers, will give you a definite advantage over applicants without formal training. Learn more about Penn Foster | Request free info
With a diploma from Penn Foster Career School you can become a dental assistant and begin a rewarding career in healthcare. With online classes at Penn Foster Career School, you can learn at your own pace and on your own schedule.
