Dental Assistants: Career Profile
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
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What Do Dental Assistants Perform?
Typical responsibilities of dental assistants cover:
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
What Dental Assistants Need to Know
Effective dental assistants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Dental Assistants Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
- Certified Registered Dental Assistant
- Dental Aide
- Dental Assistant (DA)
- Dental Nurse
- Dental Office Assistant
- Dental Specialist
- Dentist Attendant
How Many Dental Assistants Are There?
There are roughly 535,056 dental assistants working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +5.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Dental Assistants
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $25,445 |
| Hourly median | $12.23 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,000 |
| 75th percentile | $30,690 |
| 90th percentile | $35,934 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Dental Assistants Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $64,630 |
| Massachusetts | $57,960 |
| Oregon | $57,720 |
| Washington | $57,040 |
| District of Columbia | $56,500 |
| Alaska | $55,950 |
| Maine | $51,340 |
| North Dakota | $51,310 |
| Vermont | $51,020 |
| Connecticut | $50,820 |
| New Hampshire | $50,260 |
| Arizona | $49,000 |
| California | $48,910 |
| North Carolina | $48,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,290 |
| Maryland | $48,280 |
| New Jersey | $48,070 |
| Rhode Island | $48,060 |
| Wisconsin | $48,000 |
| Indiana | $47,980 |
| Iowa | $47,820 |
| Colorado | $47,770 |
| South Dakota | $47,680 |
| Illinois | $47,430 |
| Ohio | $47,330 |
| Florida | $47,060 |
| Michigan | $47,030 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| Nevada | $46,970 |
| Virginia | $46,910 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 |
| Kentucky | $46,520 |
| Delaware | $46,090 |
| Tennessee | $46,090 |
| South Carolina | $45,930 |
| Montana | $45,820 |
| Georgia | $45,600 |
| Missouri | $45,220 |
| Hawaii | $44,870 |
| Oklahoma | $44,450 |
| Wyoming | $42,770 |
| Texas | $42,270 |
| Kansas | $39,840 |
| Idaho | $39,460 |
| New Mexico | $38,840 |
| Louisiana | $38,150 |
| Arkansas | $37,680 |
| West Virginia | $37,330 |
| Utah | $37,320 |
| Alabama | $37,280 |
| Mississippi | $37,130 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,350 |
| Guam | $35,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,690 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for dental assistants differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $54,400 | 4.7% | 0.97 |
| Far Western US | $50,788 | 21.1% | 1.27 |
| Plains States | $49,939 | 6.4% | 0.93 |
| Middle Atlantic | $47,785 | 13.5% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $47,457 | 13.6% | 0.98 |
| Southeast | $45,177 | 23.0% | 0.94 |
| Southwest | $43,445 | 12.0% | 0.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,740 | 5.1% | 1.29 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Dental Assistants
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $65,360 | 3,640 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $64,600 | 2,840 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $62,990 | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $62,700 | 7,100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $62,620 | 680 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $60,890 | 7,490 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $60,220 | 550 |
| Mankato, MN | MN | $60,160 | 120 |
Which Industries Hire Dental Assistants
The largest employers of dental assistants work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 361,300 | $47,250 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 4,360 | $49,220 |
| Educational Services | 3,220 | $47,000 |
| Manufacturing | 160 | $50,560 |
| Finance and Insurance | 100 | $53,430 |
Below are examples of industries where dental assistants work:
Software Dental Assistants Use
- Medical software: Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for dental assistants reflects the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level dental assistants positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Dentists, General (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Orthodontists (Supplemental)
- Prosthodontists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Supplemental)
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for dental assistants often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 31-9091.00 (Dental Assistants).
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