The dental assistant salary in the United States is $31,220 per year, while people with the same job living in Canada make C$39,126 ($30,365) each year. In the United Kingdom, the yearly salary for this job is £17,781 ($25,168), while those working in Australia win AU$40,221 ($30,914) every year.
Norwegian dental assistant win NOK321,826 ($41,399) per year, while people working in Switzerland make CHF59,100 ($62,111) every year. Industry, geographic area and level of experience are just a few of the aspects that can define registered dental assistant salary. See what your annual wage might be with the information from the sections in our guide below.
Dental Assistant Salary Influencers
1. Industry
All dental assistants work in healthcare, the same industry. In this regard, we can’t really speak of industry as an influential factor for the salary of dental assistant professionals. However, we can speak about the impact that employers have on their yearly pay. As a general rule, private and large companies offer greater salaries than small businesses for dental assistants. Payscale offers a few examples for comparison:
- Salary for dental assistant at Aspen Dental – $25,000 – $32,000
- Family Dental certified dental assistant salary – $25,000 – $37,000
- Salary of a dental assistant at Heartland Dental Care – $29,000 – $36,000
- Dental Group Ltd median dental assistant salary – $26,000 – $41,000
- Dental assistant salary at DDS Inc. – $28,000 – $46,000
2. Geographical Area
| Dental Assistant Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland | Norway |
| Hourly Wage | $15.39 | C$19.95 ($15.48) | £8.14 ($11.52) | AU$22.33 ($17.16) | CHF28 ($29.41) | NOK155 ($19.92) |
| Annual Wage | $31,220 | C$39,126 ($30,365) | £17,781 ($25,168) | AU$40,221 ($30,914) | CHF59,100 ($62,111) | NOK321,826 ($41,399) |
Dental Assistant Salary in the US
The US dental assistant salary is highly influenced by location. In other words, there is a $17k difference between the top dental assistant salary in the country (Alaska – $44,560) and the smallest one (Arkansas – $32,520). Nonetheless, there are plenty of states that offer attractive salaries for dental assistants.
Dental Assistant Salary by State
| States | Annual mean wage ($) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 31,240 |
| Alaska | 44,560 |
| Arizona | 37,500 |
| Arkansas | 32,520 |
| California | 38,730 |
| Colorado | 39,060 |
| Connecticut | 41,150 |
| Delaware | 38,150 |
| District of Columbia | 41,600 |
| Florida | 35,780 |
| Georgia | 36,010 |
| Guam | 30,180 |
| Hawaii | 34,500 |
| Idaho | 33,790 |
| Illinois | 37,120 |
| Indiana | 36,050 |
| Iowa | 37,820 |
| Kansas | 34,750 |
| Kentucky | 33,610 |
| Louisiana | 29,190 |
| Maine | 37,790 |
| Maryland | 39,260 |
| Massachusetts | 42,080 |
| Michigan | 34,900 |
| Minnesota | 44,220 |
| Mississippi | 30,830 |
| Missouri | 34,800 |
| Montana | 34,230 |
| Nebraska | 34,200 |
| Nevada | 35,030 |
| New Hampshire | 45,480 |
| New Jersey | 40,000 |
| New Mexico | 33,020 |
| New York | 35,770 |
| North Carolina | 38,720 |
| North Dakota | 42,000 |
| Ohio | 36,630 |
| Oklahoma | 33,420 |
| Oregon | 41,680 |
| Pennsylvania | 34,890 |
| Puerto Rico | 18,780 |
| Rhode Island | 38,700 |
| South Carolina | 35,120 |
| South Dakota | 34,310 |
| Tennessee | 34,970 |
| Texas | 35,260 |
| Utah | 29,490 |
| Vermont | 40,640 |
| Virgin Islands | 30,200 |
| Virginia | 38,340 |
| Washington | 40,660 |
| West Virginia | 28,410 |
| Wisconsin | 36,850 |
| Wyoming | 33,020 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Statistics from the BLS identify these as the top 5 states for dental assistants after Alaska:
- Minnesota – $44,220
- Massachusetts – $42,080
- North Dakota – $42,000
- Oregon – $41,680
- District of Columbia – $41,600
In addition to these states, there are several that are popular among candidates searching for dental assistant salary data. Here are some of the most sought-after states, together with their annual salary estimates:
- North Carolina – $38,720
- Texas – $35,260
- Ohio – $36,630
- Florida – $35,780
- Connecticut – $41,150
However, there are states that one should try to avoid if they don’t want a low dental assistant salary. Even though Arkansas has the lowest wage for these professionals in the country, there are some other states to consider too. Excluding Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, these states have the lowest dental assistant salary estimates:
- Alabama – $31,240
- Mississippi – $30,830
- Utah – $29,490
- Louisiana – $29,190
- West Virginia – $28,410
The last geography-related aspect one should keep in mind is the level of employment in certain states. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the states that employ the most dental assistants are:
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Illinois
Dental Assistant Salary in Canada
The dental assistant salary ranges between C$26,245 and C$56,313 per year, while the hourly pay can be between C$15.26 and C$26.73.
Dental Assistant Salary in the UK
People with this job win between £6.64 and £12.07 per hour. Therefore, the yearly pay range stands between £13,840 and £30,201.
Dental Assistant Salary in Australia
Dental assistants living in Australia win between AU$21,448 and AU$55,885 per year, with an hourly pay of AU$17.62 to AU$26.71. While after AU$2,018 in bonuses they can make between AU$35,806 and AU$56,120 each year.
Dental Assistant Salary in Switzerland
Dental assistants professionals get paid about CHF59,100 per year, then get a yearly bonus of CHF969. The senior level salary stands at CHF71,168 each year, while less experienced professionals make CHF44,257 per year.
Dental Assistant Salary in Norway
After the yearly median salary of NOK321,826 per year, these professionals win also a bonus of NOK5,278 yearly. These salary estimates are based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in Norway.
3. Experience
How much experience one has as a dental assistant is also crucial for determining an accurate salary. Naturally, the starting salary for dental assistant will be considerably lower than one for an experienced professional. In fact, the gap is $11k for beginners and experts. Payscale informs that the typical US dental assistant starting salary is $29,000 a year.
Furthermore, dental assistants in their mid-career (5-10 years) receive $34,000 annually. After that and until they reach 20 years’ experience, they get $37,000 salary per year. Finally, dental assistants with over 20 years of experience in the field receive $40,000 and more yearly.
The dental assistant for a beginner starts at C$38,000 per year, raising gradually until after 20 years on the job when they will make about C$50,000 each year. While in the UK the salary for the same job starts at ₤17,000 per year, then rises to ₤18,000 after 5-10 years, then it goes back to ₤17,000 and flattens from there.
Working Hours
Dental assistants work in the offices of dentists. They work in teams with dentists and dental hygienists for treating patients. A lot of dental assistants have a full-time schedule. Nevertheless, some dental assistants have had a part-time working schedule at some time. In some cases, dental assistants might be required to work during weekends or in the evenings.
Bonuses & Benefit Packages
Also, dental assistants can make additional money from bonuses, profit sharing, and commissions. Payscale reports that the annual bonus for a US dental assistant can be up to $3,009. Moreover, they can make between $204 and $3,860 from profit sharing every year. Lastly, extra cash can come from commissions, of up to $4,932 each year.
As for health benefits, less than half of all dental assistants have general medical insurance (36%). A larger percent has dental benefits (42%), while just 14% benefits from vision coverage. Almost half of all dental assistants (43%) have no health benefits.
In Canada, bonuses per year range between C$103 and C$2,269, while profit sharing can be of up to C$814. In the UK, same professionals can win a bonus of around £550 per year.
Job Outlook
One of the best parts of the dental assistant job is the boom in job opportunities for the following years. The BLS states that there will be 19% more career opportunities for dental assistants in the 2016-2026 time frame. This is significantly greater than the percent change projected for all occupations, which is just 7%. Also, it’s close to the national average for most healthcare support occupations (19%).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the dental assistant salary is pretty much a decent annual wage. However, this occupation has multiple advantages and disadvantages. While the decent salary and possibility of working part-time are attractive, not that many dental assistants have health benefits. On the other hand, there will be more and more jobs available for those who qualify for this position in the years to come. You can also read about the dentist salary if you are interested in the average pay in the field of dentistry.
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