Dental Assisting Wages
What are Current Dental Assisting Wages?
When compared to other careers that require the same amount of education, dental assisting wages are very comparable. Although you will not earn a great deal of money in this profession, dental assisting wages are still quite attractive. In addition, there are many benefits that you can enjoy when you become employed in the field.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median dental assisting wages in May 2004 were $13.62. The middle 50% earned dental assisting wages ranging from anywhere from $11.06 to $16.56. The dental assisting wages for those earning the lowest 10% earned less than $9.11 while those earning the highest 10% had dental assisting wages of $19.97 or more.
Dental assisting wages are not the only draw to this occupation, however, as dental assistants enjoy some other attractive benefits. For example, the American Dental Association reports that most full time dental assistants receive paid vacation time, while 90% of those employed in the field also receive dental coverage.
In addition to the dental assistant wages and benefits you can expect in this occupation, there are other perks to getting trained in this field. For example, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities within this field are expected to grow at a faster than average rate.
The reason behind the increased rate in employment opportunities in the field is due to several factors. First of all, there are many people retiring and leaving the field for various reasons. In addition, the general need for dental assistants continues to grow as the population grows and people become more aware of the benefits of proper oral care. In 2004 alone, 267,000 people were employed in this field. The majority of these positions were in dental offices, with some dental assistants working in more than one office.
