“At DentalPost, it’s our job to keep our finger on the pulse of the dental job market, and share information about the potential of that market with our users,” says Tonya Lanthier, DentalPost Founder and CEO. “Through our dental assistant survey, we learned that while workplace realities may differ slightly than industry reports, the dental assistant occupation remains one of the fastest growing in the dental industry, and talent continues to be in high demand.”
The survey polled more than 500 DentalPost users on topics including salary information, workplace benefits, and employment longevity, in order to provide firsthand, unbiased information about the dental assistant occupation. The survey revealed that the average full-time dental assistant works between 36 and 37 hours per week and earns between $24,000 and $27,000 per year, depending on experience.
In contrast, the average part-time dental assistant works between 24 and 26 hours per week, earning between $19,000 and $22,000 per year. Thirty percent of those who responded are the sole providers of their household. Of the employees who responded, 4% hold a bachelor’s degree, 49% have attended college, 26% hold an associate’s degree, and 18% hold a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
People from nearly all parts of the country took part in the survey, with an emphasis on the eastern part of the U.S. The survey also reveals average time worked for employers, as well as numberr of employers, and what the most common benefits are among dental assistants.
