The salary ranges for dental assistants can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors, such as education, certifications, additional skills, and years of experience. Your earning potential as a dental assistant is determined by many elements, including where you live, your experience, your qualifications and credentials, and the type of office you work in. The U. S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics states that most dental assistants are employed full-time. Some professionals use the job of dental assistant as a stepping stone to become dental hygienists. All these factors, along with many others, will influence the salary a dental assistant can expect to receive. Specialized offices, such as oral surgery, are known to offer higher wages due to the specific knowledge their dental assistants need.
As with any position, the more time you spend in a dental environment, the more chances you have to refine your skills and demonstrate them. Check the dental assistant requirements in your state to find out if your state allows you to perform expanded functions and how much you need to get there. Dental offices located in cities or urban areas usually provide higher salaries than offices in less populated areas. Many states recognize or require DANB certified dental assistant certification, so obtaining a national certification can speed up your career and income.
Learn about dental assistant programs by entering your zip code and requesting enrollment information. Certified dental assistants are more likely to report high job satisfaction, view dental care as a profession, and feel valued by their employer. If you're not sure what the right salary is for a dental assistant position, visit Indeed's salary calculator for a personalized, free salary range based on your location, industry and experience. Regardless of the environment and type of office, finding a dental office where you feel comfortable and where team members are recognized and rewarded for a job well done will affect your final results and increase the chances that you will want to stay in the office for many years.
This fluctuation in salary is most commonly due to the experience a dental assistant has, the length of their education, the dental office where they work, and their location within Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, within a ten-year projection period, there will be approximately 445 new dental assistant positions available each year.
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