Dental Assistant Salary Information
- The median annual wages of Dental Assistants was $37,630 in 2017.*
- Skilled and experienced Dental Assistants in the highest 10% salary range earned $53,000 annually.*
- Job Outlook: Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 20 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Benefits vary substantially by practice and may be contingent upon full-time employment.
Information is based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook of the U.S. Department of Labor. Annual figures assume full-time employment at 2080 hours per year. Individual student earnings vary. (Click here for or more information)
Ready to apply or have questions before enrolling?
Job Outlook
Dentists will continue to hire more dental assistants to complete routine tasks, allowing the dentist to see more patients in their practice and to spend their time on more complex procedures. As dental practices grow, more dental assistants will be needed.
As the large baby-boom population ages, and as people keep more of their original teeth than did previous generations, the need to maintain and treat teeth will continue to increase the need for dental care.
Federal health legislation is expected to expand the number of patients who have access to health insurance. People with new or expanded dental insurance coverage will be more likely to visit a dentist than in the past. This will increase the demand for all dental services, including those performed by dental assistants. (Click here for more information)