The average dental assistant salary in the United States is somewhere between $9.75 and $18.89, whereas overtime can be priced from $11.10 to $28.05, depending on the dental clinic. Keep in mind that these are the average incomes of dental assistants and should only be used as a basis. These are in no way the exact amount of money that a new or experienced dental assistant will make. Expertise and experience in the field is one thing that will affect the pay scale. To better understand how their jobs are matched with a price, here are some more interesting statistical facts about the dental assistant salary.
Annual wages of dental assistants
To start with, nearly 50% of the dental assistant workforce makes a yearly income of between $29,000 and $37,000. A further 20% of the remaining workers earn over $39,000, whilst the final 30% earn less than $29,000. These annual incomes are enough to sustain a person with a regular lifestyle. It would be luxurious already for a person living with a minimalist’s lifestyle. That’s why dental assistant jobs are very popular nowadays. Further, the length of time the vocational courses take are relatively short. It takes only nine to eleven months to complete a vocational training program, after which the student can begin practical application of the knowledge learned through apprenticeship.
In dental clinics, apprenticeship means the first few months, or years, during which the student participates as a level 1 dental assistant. This is oftentimes simply referred to as dental assistant-basic. To advance to second level dental assistant, the student must show excellent skill to prove that he or she is deserving of a certificate. This certificate is issued to new professionals who are ready to work on a permanent basis.
EDDA and certification levels
There is another level for dental assistants, which is called the Expanded Duty Dental Assistant or EDDA. To qualify for this level, the professional must have long experience in working with real dentists in a dental environment. Experience in other medical fields might help also. A rule of the thumb is to study hard when in school then work harder upon landing the first job.
It’s very important to take notice that the background education and level of the professional will both play a huge part in deciding the salary minimums. An EDDA will obviously make a lot more money compared to a basic dental assistant.
Pay scales per jurisdiction
Another thing that influences the dental assistant pay scale is the state and city. The average salary for a dental assistant will depend on the minimums in the jurisdiction. For example, dental assistants in the California region will make around $12.96 per hour, whilst those working in the New York area will make over $14.92 per hour. In Illinois and Georgia, the rates are around $14.86 and $14.66, respectively. In the state of Virginia, dental assistants make $14.49 per hour. It’s cheaper in Ohio and Pennsylvania at $13.74 and $13.13, respectively. Las Vegas has one of the highest rates at $15.49. Charlotte City and NTC top that at $16.42 and $17.00. The rate in New York City is the highest in the entire United States.
There are many more factors that affect the limit of pay scales for dental assistants. Amongst these factors are certification and employment. A higher certification would not only mean better educational attainment, but higher excellence and achievement. A better employer might want to pay higher than the minimum rate, so that’s another reason why the pay scale increases.
In summary, the things that affect the variations in the pay scale of dental assistants include experience, education, certification, jurisdiction and employment. In order to make the most of your skills and knowledge as a dental assistant, these things have to be taken in consideration.