There are many things to consider when you start looking into the typical dental assistant salary. Your location has much to do with your earning potential as well as what your particular career goals are. As with many professions in the healthcare field, you can work your hours in order to make more money, have a better quality of life and provide excellent overall benefits for your entire family. Shopping your skills around and making sure you have excellent dental assistant training will help ensure you get what you want out of your career path.
Dental Assistant Salary after School
Your lowest paying job will likely be the one you take immediately following your dental assistant training. Some dental assistants like to work in a specialized office as to add additional qualifications to their resumes. This raises your potential income down the road but often means you take a lesser salary initially as the company is taking the time to train you in additional areas. The average salary of a dental assistant is $34,120 as of 2010, but that number is brought higher by places like Washington DC in which dental assistants make $47,630 annually.
You can raise your dental assistant salary by taking X-ray certification and getting official registration in your state. You can be hired as a dental assistant without ever going to dental assistant schools but your promotion potential becomes very limited and your salary tends to stay in the lower range around $25,000 per year.
Dental Assistant Salary Benefits
You have to consider what your benefits package adds to the value of your salary. Working in a dental office, you will have access to extensive dental care as well as a decent medical package. If you are supporting a family this adds thousands of dollars in value to your salary. Often, your office will even waive any co-pays or deductibles on work for your family. This further increases the value of your dental assistant salary. This makes it a bit more like a barter system, but the benefit is for you and the employer. Both sides end up paying a lower tax rate and getting the benefits. You get treatment and non-taxable income; the employer gets a loyal employee willing to work for a lesser rate.
States with High Dental Assistant Salary
Aside from Washington DC, there are other states that offer dental assistant salaries above $40,000 per year. Alaska, New Hampshire and Minnesota are among the highest paying states when it comes to the profession. That being said, the cost of living is relatively low as well. California also offers a decent wage but overall you will spend more to live in the state. You can also command a higher salary if you are willing to work in underserved areas where dentists have difficulty finding dental assistants.
Dental Assistant Schools
You can actually procure employment as a dental assistant without ever attending any formal schooling. You will receive on the job training and get the same benefits as if you did attend school. By choosing to go to dental assistant school you can command a higher hourly salary and eventually build on your education. There are various certifications available to those who work in the dental field that require you have a proper certificate to move up the certification ladder. This also gives you more options to change your path down the road. If you attend school and obtain an Associates degree you can move on and get your dental hygienist certification down the road and increase your salary exponentially.
The great thing about certification being optional is you can try out the career for a while and see if it is something you enjoy. This gives you the opportunity to test the waters as well as pay for the schooling if you do decide to get your certification. So many careers you cannot begin until you are already educated. Here you can work and put yourself through the certificate program or through full-fledged college. This allows you greater flexibility and the opportunity to limit your school loans.
Developing an Employment Record
By working as a dental assistant while you go through school, you are building a relationship with an employer and a resume. This helps when you leave school and start looking for a job. By having a relevant work history you will stand out from the other applicants and those who have only gone to school. You will also be able to command a slightly higher dental assistant salary because you have experience worth paying for. Employers will be happy to pay the additional wage knowing that you are committed to the job and that you know what you are doing. Employers waste tons of money every year hiring people who do not work out in the long term.
While the dental assistant salary might not sell you on the job right off the bat, the idea of taking some time in the working environment might be just what you need to make your decision. Instead of going to school blind, not knowing what your career will be like afterwards, you can try out your chosen profession. You can even audition the dental assistant salary to see if it is something that fits in your plans for your life.
Description
Dental assistant salary varies greatly depending on your location and the certifications you carry.