Showing posts with label dental assistant salary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dental assistant salary. Show all posts

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Information On The Dental Assistant Salary

Seriously considering going to school and earning a degree so you can become an oral hygienist? You're probably wondering about the kind of dental assistant salary you stand to make as an oral hygienist. As in any other job, you should consider both the monetary compensation and your future employment prospects in this industry. In order to become an oral hygienist, you'll need to devote time to studying, as well as be dedicated. When you choose to invest in education in order to be an oral hygienist, you'll see significant returns after you graduate and once you are working professionally. With an average salary this job position pays, you can support your family and enjoy bright prospects for your future.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the average dental assistant salary as $32,380.00 per year. In addition, more than 50 percent of dental assistants receive a good benefits package with health insurance, and almost 90 percent of people employed in the field report earning paid vacation. Employment in the industry is solid. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the employment market for dental care assistants is growing much more quickly than normal and that job prospects going into the future are excellent.

The place of employment is a factor in how much a dental assistant earns. In general, the federal government offers the best compensation packages for dental assistants. However, if you live in an area where there are no federal facilities, your job prospects are extremely limited. Private dental offices and surgical/medical hospitals and facilities tend to have the next highest pay rates in the industry. Of course, you'll need to have several years experience as an oral hygienist if you want to work in a surgical setting. It is worth the time gaining the required experience by working in other places, though.

The dental assistant salary at doctor's offices and universities/colleges is slightly lower than the salary at other places. Barring the low pay, there are some benefits to working in these settings. Some colleges and universities may offer programs in which you can continue your education while working for them. In addition, you're likely to have more time to go on vacation. It all depends on the class schedules and if they offer a medical/dental program. Private doctor's offices are excellent places to work, especially if you have an interest in other areas of the medical field.

It doesn't matter what goals you have in pursuing a career in dental health. You will earn a good dental assistant salary as an oral hygienist and you'll have many and better career opportunities opening up to you. Becoming an oral hygienist has excellent prospects in terms of employment. Positions for oral hygienists are in high demand, so even in recession, these professionals will find jobs. Dental assistants tend to have rewarding careers in a fast-paced environment.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Dental Assistant Salary: Statistics And Predictions For The Salary In This Career

Dental assistant salary is the subject of this article. Researchers for the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected in 2010 that the demand for dental assistants is supposed to raise by 38 percent by the year 2018. With 300,000 positions already filled in this field, this expansion would create around 120,000 more jobs for individuals. An increase in demand for this field will also mean an increase in average salary.

2010 records from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the average oral assistant salary was around $16.40 per hour and near $34,100 for the year. The top 10 percent of this job position averaged $47,000 annually and $22.60 per hour, while the bottom 10 percent of this job position averaged $22,700 and $10.90 per hour.

There are several factors that cause the large differences towards the dental assistant salary. The amount of experience and level of education an individual has can play an impact on how much the individual earns during their career. Of course, entry-level dental assistants will not earn nearly as much money as a tenured assistant. Also, those individuals who earn degrees are also usually earning more income than those who received certificates or diplomas from dental programs.

Another big factor in the amount individuals earn in this field are contributed to the state they choose to practice in.  All states vary in the salaries they produce for this particular job position. The demand level of this particular position in each state, and the area of the country that each state lies will both impact the dental assistant salary. The five largest average earnings by state for this position are:

District of Columbia-                $22.90/hour    $47,630/annually

Alaska-                        $20.20/hour    $42,020/annually

New Hampshire-                    $20.02/hour    $41,640/annually

Minnesota-                    $19.79/hour    $41,170/annually

Connecticut-                    $19.32/hour    $40,180/annually

The actual environment that one chooses to work in also has a big effect on the dental assistant salary. The different job industries all yield different incomes each year. Government jobs and specialty jobs tend to yield higher wages than jobs in dental offices or physician offices. The industries with the largest average earnings are:


Specialty Hospitals-                $18.58/hour    $38,650/annually

Federal Executive Branch-            $18.33/hour    $38,130/annually

State Government-                $17.14/hour    $35,650/annually

Psychiatric/ Substance Abuse Hospitals-        $17.12/hour    $36,610/annually

General Medical/ Surgical Hospitals-          $17.12/hour    $36,610/annually

While these numbers show the estimated average earnings for each job industry in different states, one must also take into account the multiple benefits that are associated with being a dental assistant. These benefits include large discounts on dental procedures and also paid vacations. This again is varied from state to state and relies heavily on whether you are a full-time employee or not.

When compared to the training involved, the dental assistant salary far outweighs the cost. The dental assistants across the US will continue to increase as the salaries for this position keep rising.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Dental Assistant Salary: The Highest Five Earnings By State and Metropolitan Area

Trends show that the dental assistant salary is supposed raise dramatically over the next seven years or so.The field of dentistry is continuing to expand in an economy where most job industries are suffering. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics stated in 2010 that the dental industry is supposed to expand by anywhere from 36 to 38 percent by 2018. With the number of dental assistant jobs totaling almost 300,000, this would mean 120,000 jobs are expected to become available. As demand increases for these positions, this trend is also expected to raise these positions' salaries.

There are a few statistics that might be of importance to those seeking positions in this industry. The vast majority of individuals that enter the oral assistant position wind up working in a local clinic or dentist office. However, these individuals can earn more money by working for hospitals or the federal government if the opportunity becomes available. On average, these individuals could earn a dental assistant salary that earns $5,000 more per year working in these environments compared to a local dentist.

Another important statistic for those looking to enter the dental industry is the states that employ the highest number of jobs for this position. California, as of 2010, had the largest amount of people employed with around 44,400. The next leading state was Texas with nearly 20,800 individuals employed in this field. Then New York, Florida, and Illinois followed with between 17,000 and 11,000 people employed.

The listing for the top five states with the highest average dental assistant salary are:

District of Columbia
District of Columbia employs nearly 430 people that on average earned $47,600 each year.

Alaska
Alaska has around 1,140 employees that average around $42,000 per year.

New Hampshire
New Hampshire estimates 1,540 worker make on average about $41,600 per year.

Minnesota
Minnesota has 5,320 people working that make on average $41,170 per year.

Connecticut
Connecticut employs nearly 3,760 individuals that make an average for $40,100 each year.

The list of metropolitan areas that yielded the highest average dental assistant salary are:

Manchester, NH
Manchester has around 210 employees and they earn on average $46,820 each year.

Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa employs nearly 740 individuals and each earns on average $44,690 per year.

Barnstable Town, MA
Barnstable Town has nearly 280 employees that make on average $44,570 each year.

Anchorage, AK
Anchorage has nearly 680 employees that earn around $43,700 on average each year.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has about 2,670 individuals employed that take home a yearly average of $43,600.

These metropolitan areas and states are some of the top places that will yield the largest average dental assistant salary. Even with the economy continuing to struggle, the dental industry has a great outlook for the years to come.