2013 Pennsylvania dental assisting salary survey
(National averages or percentages are in the parentheses to allow for comparison)
- Most common hourly rates: $15, $16, $17 ($18)
- % who earn $30 or more an hour: 10% (6%)
- % who last received a raise more than a year ago: 47% (56%)
- % who believe raises occur at fair intervals: 45% (41%)
- % who would recommend dental assisting as a profession: 84% (73%)
- % who envision continued employment as a dental assistant three years from now: 82% (71%)
Selected comments from Pennsylvania:
- I like to see bonuses and appreciation.
- You can not make good money as a dental assistant in Pennsylvania.
- Until we are viewed as a valued employee & not just the assistant our pay will always be low
- Because of the economy, our office has had a pay freeze for about 5 years.
- I found out recently that dental assistants are starting out at $2 more an hour than I am making after 2 years.
- I think every assistant should have to have, at the very least, a CDA; this will make people view us as a valued team member and that we are serious about our profession.
- I am hoping that all states will require dental assistants to have at least their ICE certification in order to work in the profession. There are too many problems with infection control, which I feel is due to a lack of education by on-the-job trained dental assistants.
