Dental Assistant Hourly Rate

Highest Hourly Rates By City for Dental Assistant Jobs

Top Cities by Popularity for Dental Assistant Jobs

Highest Hourly Rates By City Top Cities by Popularity

Highest Hourly Rates By City 1. Seattle, Washington 2. Honolulu, Hawaii 3. San Jose, California 4. Buffalo, New York 5. San Francisco, California 6. Charlotte, North Carolina 7. Washington, District of Columbia 8. Atlanta, Georgia 9. Madison, Wisconsin 10. New York, New York 11. Durham, North Carolina 12. Austin, Texas 13. Palatine, Illinois 14. Ogden, Utah 15. Rochester, New York 16. Omaha, Nebraska 17. Fort Worth, Texas 18. Tulsa, Oklahoma 19. Tacoma, Washington 20. Las Vegas, Nevada Top Cities by Popularity 1. Chicago, Illinois 2. Las Vegas, Nevada 3. Houston, Texas 4. New York, New York 5. Denver, Colorado 6. San Diego, California 7. Phoenix, Arizona

What is the Typical Dental Assistant Salary Range?

Dental assistants may perform a variety of tasks within a dental office, including both laboratory and office duties. While the specific duties of a dental assistant will vary depending on their work setting, training and experience level, all dental assistants work closely with dentists to ensure that each dental procedure is completed smoothly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental assisting is projected to be one of the fastest growing jobs over the next several years. That's great news, especially for those assistants who are just entering the field. While assistants can choose to complete dental assistant training programs, this is one occupation for which on-the-job training is common. The education and experience required for dental assistant jobs changes according to an employer's preferences as well as location; licensing requirements for dental assistants vary in different states.

Location also comes into play when it comes to dental assistant salaries. Looking at the median Dental Assistant Salary by State shows that dental assistant salaries definitely vary from one place to the next. We can see that New York is high on that chart as well as the chart showing median Dental Assistant Salaries by City. Of course, New York City is also a notoriously expensive place to live. Dental assistant salaries might be higher there than in a city like Phoenix, Arizona, but how do the cities compare when it comes to cost of living? Using PayScale's Cost of Living Calculator to find Cost of Living and Dental Assistant Salary Data for each city, we can see that the cost of living in Phoenix is 54 percent lower than in New York. The calculator also shows that the cost of housing in Phoenix is about 75 percent lower. If you're wondering how dental assistant salaries rank in your city, use the calculator to get a salary and cost of living comparison with other U.S. cities.

All dental assistants should expect a learning curve when they first get started. Even assistants who have completed training programs or have prior work experience will have to learn the ins and outs of a specific dental office. Fortunately, assistants can also expect to see an increase in their dental assistant salaries as greater experience is acquired. View the chart showing median Dental Assistant Salaries by Years Experience to see a dental assistant salary progression over the course of 20 years. Another factor that influences dental assistant salaries is industry; comparing Dental Assistant Salary by Industry shows that assistants who work in cosmetic dentistry tend to earn higher salaries.

Dental Assistant Salary Story

Careful research into dental assistant salaries is important, but provides limited insight into what it's actually like to work in the field. For an insider's look at life as a dental assistant, check out the Salary Stories interview, "Dental Assistant Salaries and Career Options" over in the PayScale blogs section. Melissa McKaig, a dental assistant in Arizona, offers advice on how to become a dental assistant, explains how assistant jobs differ from hygienist positions, and discusses factors that can affect a dental assistant salary.