Taken Directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm
Dental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments.
Quick Facts: Dental Assistants
2015 Median Pay $35,980 per year
$17.30 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training None
Number of Jobs, 2014 318,800
Job Outlook, 2014-24 18% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2014-24 58,600
What Dental Assistants Do
Dental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.
Work Environment
Almost all dental assistants work in dentists’ offices. Most work full time.
How to Become a Dental Assistant
There are several possible paths to becoming a dental assistant. Some states require assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam. In other states, there are no formal educational requirements.
Pay
The median annual wage for dental assistants was $35,980 in May 2015.
Job Outlook
Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 18 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Ongoing research linking oral health and general health will likely continue to increase the demand for preventive dental services.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for dental assistants.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of dental assistants with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about dental assistants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Pay for Dental Assistants varies by area of the country and by population of the city. Also, pay scale may be lower right out of school compared to an assistant that has 2 or more years experience.
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