Dental Assistant Salary, Wage and Earning Potential
Dental assistants play a vital role in the health care community, and especially within the dentistry profession. They help to set up and maintain equipment along with educating patients about the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene.
Solid dental assisting skills along with industry-specific education can give an individual the best chances of securing the job of their dreams. However, finding the perfect job is quite often the result of one's personal skills, experience, market conditions and personal work ethic.
The wages or salary of a dental assistant may vary depending on the location and type of office worked. A job in a highly populated city may quite often yield a different salary from a person working in a rural location. Future career opportunities can also increase as an aging population becomes more prone to gum disease and other related dental health conditions. Another factor that can contribute to the demand for qualified dental assistants is the fact that more people are keeping their natural teeth longer.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the past 10 years, the median annual wages of dental assistants were $32,380 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $26,980 and $38,960. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,270, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,150.*
Some dental assistants can become office managers, dental instructors or dental supplies and equipment representatives. These types of careers quite often require the completion of further education and well-rounded experience. Dental assisting professionals can increase wages and salaries by adding different certifications and experience to their resume. As with any profession, an increase in responsibilities can lead to an increase in income.
Everest believes getting the right education is the beginning of the journey. No one can ever guarantee what another person's earning potential may be in life. However, a personal commitment to excellence, continually upgrading career possibilities through continued education and learning, and a steady assessment of personal goals can help keep a professional in the running.
Contact Everest today to find out how taking dental assistant training can prepare you to earn a good salary or wage in one of today's most popular career fields.
*Adapted from the Occupational Employment and Wages - Dental Assistants section of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics [http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319091.htm]. Finding employment in your field of interest may be due to a combination of your own hard work, experience, work attitude and local market conditions.
