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Dentist Assistant Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Dentist Assistants Job Overview

Dentist assistants work under the close direction of dentists. They execute a number of functions related to laboratory, office work and patient care.

Dentist Assistants Schools and Degrees

There are 269 dental assisting training programs approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation within the American Dental Association in the U.S. These courses usually last no longer than a year. Upon completion of the course, candidates are awarded a certificate or a diploma degree. The curriculum includes theory and preclinical studies in dental assisting skills. Community and junior colleges offer two year courses and associate’s degrees. Candidates need to have a high school diploma for admission to these courses.

Job Requirements

On the job training is important for a dentist assistant. However, most states control the duties of a dentist assistant. Some states ask for a licensure or registration and may require a dentist assistant to clear a written and practical exam. Other states require the candidates to complete four to twelve hours of education courses approved by the state. Many states require dentist assistants to undergo ongoing education to keep their licenses.

A certification in this profession is an acknowledgement of the competence of the dentist assistant’s competency. A certification is obtainable from the Dental Assisting National Board and is required in more than 30 states. Those who graduate from an ADA accredited education program are able to take this exam. Those who have four years of part time experience or two years of full time experience working as a dentist assistant also qualify.

Dentist assistants work almost as a second pair of hands with the dentist. Therefore, they need to be reliable and need to have good interpersonal relation management skills. Excellent manual dexterity is also an important requirement for a dentist assistant.

Nature of Work

Dental assistants disinfect and sanitize office instruments and keep them in order for dentists to easily access them while treating patients. They acquire the patient’s treatment records and prepare them for treatment. They also take impressions and x-rays and process them according to the dentist’s instructions.

Dentist assistants work for about forty hours a week. Sometimes they work during the evenings or on weekends. They generally need to work in a clean and comfortable environment. They work around the dental chair and organize medication, materials and instruments and give them to the dentists when required. They need to wear gloves, masks and protective clothing for protection from infectious diseases.

Dentist Assistants Jobs and Outlook

According to research in 2006, dentist assistants held about 280,000 jobs in the US. Employment is the highest in the following industries:< /p>

  • Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools
  • Federal Executive Branch(OES Designation)
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
  • Offices of Dentists
  • Offices of Physicians

The mean hourly wage for dentist assistants in the US is about $15.52, while the mean annual wages are around $32,280.

Job Numbers and Growth

The official count of dentist assistants in 2008 was 280,000. Workers have recently faced a very low level of unemployment. The unemployment rate for employees? About 2% recently.

Area Job Conditions

You'll see a lot of employees in Hanford (California), Hinesville (Georgia), and Pocatello (Idaho), and comparatively fewer in Champaign (Illinois), Montgomery (Alabama), and Dalton (Georgia).

Wages for Dentist assistants are highest in Framingham (Massachusetts), Santa Rosa (California), and Lowell (Massachusetts), and lowest in Florence (Alabama), McAllen (Texas), and Logan (Utah).

Training and Education

Workers normally have moderate-term on-the-job training before landing a job. Degrees are held by 9% of current employees. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 58% of dentist assistants. Education topped out at high school for 34% of workers. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Part-time work suffices for 36% of dentist assistants.

Dentist Assistants by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$32,00070-25%
Auburn$26,00080-9%
Birmingham$28,000810-31%
Decatur$26,00070-35%
Dothan$27,0001200%
Florence$25,00090-10%
Gadsden$31,00060-6%
Huntsville$30,000320-30%
Mobile$26,000290-27%
Montgomery$26,000170-54%
Tuscaloosa$27,000140-25%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$42,000480+38%
Fairbanks$39,000110+78%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$30,000130+19%
Kingman$28,000110+9%
Phoenix$35,0004,370+3%
Prescott$35,000160+28%
Tucson$35,000620-25%
Yuma$31,00090-26%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$28,000470+9%
Fort Smith$26,000280+12%
Hot Springs$27,000130+84%
Jonesboro$26,000100+3%
Little Rock$29,000620-18%
Pine Bluff$25,00070+11%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$27,000770+31%
Chico$28,000330+134%
El Centro$31,000160+59%
Fresno$33,0001,200+62%
Hanford$31,000180+233%
Madera$35,000130+87%
Merced$33,000140+23%
Modesto$29,000630+77%
Napa$37,000210+62%
Oakland$40,0002,930+25%
Oxnard$35,0001,110+68%
Redding$31,000250+86%
Riverside$30,0004,280+48%
Sacramento$38,0002,520+25%
Salinas$38,000490+47%
San Diego$34,0003,740+23%
San Francisco$41,0002,690+18%
San Jose$39,0003,030+45%
San Luis Obispo$34,000350+68%
Santa Ana$33,0005,480+58%
Santa Barbara$34,000710+95%
Santa Cruz$33,000360+98%
Santa Rosa$46,000710+77%
Stockton$32,000840+79%
Vallejo$36,000540+108%
Visalia$33,000490+70%
Yuba City$33,000170+128%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$37,000380+9%
Colorado Springs$33,000990+79%
Denver$39,0002,720-4%
Fort Collins$37,000350+36%
Grand Junction$30,000150+33%
Greeley$34,000150-2%
Pueblo$33,000180+69%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$39,000860-12%
Danbury$36,000160+10%
Hartford$39,0001,260-4%
New Haven$42,000490-21%
Norwich$37,000290+10%
Waterbury$41,000170+23%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$32,000140+29%
Wilmington$35,000630-14%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$36,0004,680-11%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$41,000410-11%
Deltona$29,000420+26%
Fort Lauderdale$33,0001,600-4%
Fort Walton Beach$33,000200+29%
Gainesville$36,000290+19%
Jacksonville$34,0001,210-11%
Lakeland$30,000330-22%
Miami$30,0001,840-18%
Naples$42,000240-6%
Ocala$33,000200+1%
Orlando$35,0001,770-26%
Palm Bay$32,000540+26%
Panama City$29,000110-21%
Pensacola$30,000370+15%
Port St Lucie$35,000180-33%
Punta Gorda$34,000130+71%
Sarasota$34,000650+12%
Sebastian$33,000140+48%
Tallahassee$32,000230-35%
Tampa$35,0002,070-25%
West Palm Beach$37,0001,380+14%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$26,000110-10%
Athens$28,000190+24%
Atlanta$36,0004,660-14%
Augusta$29,000550+22%
Brunswick$33,00070-15%
Columbus$31,000300+30%
Dalton$33,00060-62%
Gainesville$32,000110-23%
Hinesville$29,00060+170%
Macon$32,000130-38%
Rome$29,000100+44%
Savannah$28,000390+21%
Valdosta$29,000120+8%
Warner Robins$30,000120+22%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$29,0001,180+20%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boise$30,000820+38%
Coeur Dalene$29,000150+38%
Idaho Falls$29,000210+126%
Lewiston$29,00070+69%
Pocatello$30,000150+166%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$38,00090-37%
Champaign$30,000100-49%
Chicago$33,0008,230-5%
Danville$30,00040-15%
Decatur$30,000140+53%
Kankakee$29,000110+53%
Peoria$30,000290-21%
Rockford$32,000340+4%
Springfield$33,000180-17%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$32,000120+57%
Bloomington$37,000170+22%
Columbus$29,00080-3%
Elkhart$29,000150-45%
Evansville$33,000320-15%
Fort Wayne$33,000430-8%
Gary$32,000640+3%
Indianapolis$36,0001,760-13%
Kokomo$32,00090+33%
Lafayette$26,000190+22%
Michigan City$32,00070-16%
Muncie$31,000120+35%
South Bend$36,000350+20%
Terre Haute$26,000110-22%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$37,00050-31%
Cedar Rapids$36,000270-6%
Davenport$31,000380-5%
Des Moines$35,000510-30%
Dubuque$31,000150+48%
Iowa City$31,000240+64%
Sioux City$30,000190+31%
Waterloo$33,000200+13%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$35,000120+36%
Topeka$29,000260+12%
Wichita$32,000710+5%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$31,000160+40%
Elizabethtown$32,00090+7%
Lexington$29,000460-14%
Louisville$35,0001,290-7%
Owensboro$27,00080-15%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$28,000110-8%
Baton Rouge$28,000690-16%
Houma$24,000190-4%
Lafayette$25,000300-4%
Lake Charles$24,000150-16%
Monroe$28,000210+31%
New Orleans$29,0001,160+1%
Shreveport$28,000330-13%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$32,000120-7%
Lewiston$37,00090-7%
Portland$36,000330-26%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$35,0002,480-16%
Bethesda$36,0001,260-2%
Cumberland$29,00060-11%
Hagerstown$32,000170-18%
Salisbury$33,000140+35%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$41,000290+38%
Boston$38,0003,350-14%
Brockton$40,000260+41%
Framingham$48,000280-20%
Haverhill$37,000190+20%
Lawrence$39,000190+67%
Leominster$34,000130+32%
Lowell$44,000240-7%
New Bedford$32,000140+7%
Pittsfield$37,00080+28%
Springfield$35,000600-10%
Taunton$41,00070-23%
Worcester$37,000530-3%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$37,000480+34%
Battle Creek$31,00090-6%
Bay City$31,00080+22%
Detroit$32,0001,560-3%
Flint$33,000360+23%
Grand Rapids$36,000980+15%
Holland$38,000270+27%
Jackson$31,00090-12%
Kalamazoo$36,000270-7%
Lansing$35,000310-26%
Monroe$31,00080+6%
Muskegon$32,000200+66%
Niles$34,000110-12%
Saginaw$34,000260+67%
Warren$34,0003,100+18%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$37,000190-30%
Minneapolis$42,0003,390-17%
Rochester$42,000190-2%
St Cloud$41,000230+7%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$28,000170-26%
Hattiesburg$26,000200+77%
Jackson$29,000400-29%
Pascagoula$28,00080-13%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$31,000240+42%
Jefferson City$31,000130-7%
Joplin$29,000110-33%
Kansas City$34,0001,880-20%
Springfield$33,000420-1%
St Joseph$30,000150+52%
St Louis$35,0002,580-16%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$31,000180+8%
Great Falls$32,000120+84%
Missoula$33,000160+56%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$30,000300-15%
Omaha$31,000840-19%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Carson City$39,00060+20%
Las Vegas$33,0001,820-13%
Reno$36,000600+32%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$44,000210-5%
Nashua$40,000390+31%
Portsmouth$42,000130+16%
Rochester$41,000130+15%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$33,000210-34%
Camden$35,0001,230+3%
Edison$36,0002,420+3%
Newark$38,0002,740+20%
Ocean City$35,00050-37%
Trenton$37,000420-11%
Vineland$36,000190+66%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$31,000950+9%
Farmington$29,000200+93%
Las Cruces$27,000160+30%
Santa Fe$39,000200+57%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$34,000710-28%
Binghamton$34,000200-11%
Buffalo$31,0001,080-11%
Elmira$31,00060-10%
Glens Falls$33,000120+15%
Ithaca$30,000110+34%
Kingston$33,000140+18%
Nassau$36,0003,170+11%
New York$33,0009,510-19%
Poughkeepsie$35,000570+8%
Rochester$31,000950-16%
Syracuse$30,000640-7%
Utica$30,000180-34%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$32,000440+13%
Charlotte$33,0001,530-24%
Durham$37,000570-6%
Fayetteville$31,000390+51%
Goldsboro$36,00090+25%
Greensboro$34,000540-35%
Greenville$34,000170+17%
Hickory$33,000390+11%
Jacksonville$34,000140+79%
Raleigh$39,000990-14%
Rocky Mount$31,000160+37%
Wilmington$33,000360+16%
Winston Salem$35,000480+2%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$32,000120+7%
Fargo$34,000190-23%
Grand Forks$32,00080-15%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$32,000530-30%
Canton$29,000470+25%
Cincinnati$34,0001,900-19%
Cleveland$31,0001,990-17%
Columbus$35,0001,570-26%
Dayton$34,000730-17%
Lima$26,00060-42%
Mansfield$34,000140+36%
Sandusky$31,00050-25%
Springfield$32,000110+19%
Toledo$32,000680-2%
Youngstown$30,000510-1%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$31,000160+127%
Oklahoma City$30,0001,540+21%
Tulsa$28,0001,110+13%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$37,000210+51%
Corvallis$37,00080+38%
Eugene$36,000370+15%
Medford$34,000280+61%
Portland$38,0002,930+24%
Salem$36,000450+39%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$31,000790+5%
Altoona$27,000120+1%
Erie$32,000270+1%
Harrisburg$28,000670-5%
Johnstown$24,000140+25%
Lancaster$33,000470-10%
Lebanon$32,000900%
Philadelphia$34,0003,690-14%
Pittsburgh$30,0002,110-18%
Reading$31,000330-7%
Scranton$29,000700+23%
State College$30,000130+16%
Williamsport$31,00090-10%
York$27,000370-6%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$35,0001,280+0%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$32,000130+8%
Charleston$31,000570-12%
Columbia$31,000670-15%
Florence$29,000150-13%
Greenville$29,000540-20%
Myrtle Beach$34,000230-9%
Spartanburg$32,000190-27%
Sumter$32,00070+6%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$28,000210+67%
Sioux Falls$32,000210-29%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$32,000460-10%
Clarksville$30,000270+75%
Cleveland$30,00050-26%
Jackson$28,000120+5%
Johnson City$31,000110-28%
Kingsport$27,000300+24%
Knoxville$32,000720-4%
Memphis$27,000840-40%
Morristown$31,000100+10%
Nashville$31,0001,540-11%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$27,000100-20%
Amarillo$31,000210+0%
Austin$34,0001,510-12%
Beaumont$31,000290-15%
Brownsville$25,000180-31%
College Station$30,000130-18%
Corpus Christi$29,000360-6%
Dallas$34,0003,650-24%
El Paso$23,000490-16%
Fort Worth$34,0001,680-14%
Houston$33,0004,840-18%
Killeen$29,000250-1%
Laredo$25,000110-35%
Longview$31,000210+8%
Lubbock$27,000370+44%
Mcallen$20,000320-33%
Midland$27,00090-33%
Odessa$28,00090-20%
San Angelo$28,00090+15%
San Antonio$29,0001,920+1%
Sherman$30,000100+33%
Texarkana$28,00090-16%
Tyler$32,000180-4%
Victoria$26,00060-34%
Waco$31,000150-26%
Wichita Falls$28,000110-4%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Logan$22,000190+112%
Ogden$25,000810+86%
Provo$27,000760+112%
Salt Lake City$28,0001,970+39%
St George$29,000210+121%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$36,000150-35%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$33,00090-26%
Charlottesville$32,000240+24%
Danville$26,00080+22%
Harrisonburg$26,000130+22%
Lynchburg$31,000190-10%
Richmond$32,0001,030-24%
Roanoke$34,000240-30%
Virginia Beach$32,0001,7000%
Winchester$30,00080-23%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$35,000190+16%
Bremerton$35,000290+70%
Kennewick$35,000270+46%
Longview$32,000130+112%
Mount Vernon$40,000170+96%
Olympia$37,000360+85%
Seattle$38,0004,300+32%
Spokane$32,000740+62%
Tacoma$37,0001,130+89%
Wenatchee$33,000100+31%
Yakima$33,000240+46%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$25,000370+19%
Huntington$26,000180-25%
Morgantown$24,000130+44%
Parkersburg$25,000140-1%
Weirton$22,00090+11%
Wheeling$23,000100-21%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$33,000270+12%
Eau Claire$33,000190+21%
Fond$34,00070-17%
Green Bay$32,000350-3%
Janesville$33,000190+45%
La Crosse$33,000190+37%
Madison$38,000520-30%
Milwaukee$33,0001,910-1%
Oshkosh$30,000180+4%
Racine$36,000180+14%
Sheboygan$32,000140+24%
Wausau$29,000180+33%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$32,00090+24%
Cheyenne$30,00080-4%

Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this dentist assistant schools and jobs info.

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