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What Is The Average Dental Assistant Salary?
If you are interested in working as a dental assistant you will probably be interested not only in a job description but also how much an average salary is. It is very difficult for a dentist to work on a patient and take care of the other tasks that need to be done at the same time, such as suctioning and handling their own instruments. Some are able to do this; however you will find that most dentists employ an assistant to help during dental procedures. An assistant will also be responsible for other tasks, depending on the size of the clinic and how many other people are employed.
The work itself is not complex nor do you usually have to work odd or long hours. Other responsibilities that an assistant may have can include things such as ordering supplies, answering the telephone, making appointments and greeting patients as they arrive at the clinic, sterilizing equipment and taking x-rays. A dentist can make anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 per year, so as you can see it is a fairly profitable profession. This is also reflected in the salary that a Certified Dental Assistant can make. Someone new to the job will probably make around $11.50 per hour; this may increase up to $20 an hour once more experience is gained.
Salaries do tend to vary between states and even between cities. This is largely dependent on how populated the area is, how much demand there is for dental services and what the current cost of living is. It also varies depending on experience. For example, for the first four years you may make somewhere between the amounts of $20,000 to $30,000 per year, however someone with twenty years or more experience can make anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000 per year. Hospitals and government employed assistants tend to get higher wages than those working for a private practice. A certified assistant makes the most money, with a registered assistant only receiving slightly more on average. This is why it is important when undergoing training that you do so at an accredited college, it certainly is beneficial in the long term to do so.