A dental assistant (someone who assists a dentist in working with patients and/or performing clerical functions in a dental clinic) can expect to see both steady employment and a good salary over the years — in fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 11% growth in available jobs over the coming decade, higher than the national average. But in this career you’re not limited to only one path and one projected salary. With the addition of certain skills, you can increase your pay even more. According to PayScale, these are the top ten skills that will give your dental assistant salary the biggest boost!
1. Inventory control
- Average pay for a dental assistant with inventory control skills: $22.75/hour
- 33% boost*
2. Bill collections
- Average pay for a dental assistant with bill collection skills: $19.65/hour
- 15% boost*
3. Office management
- Average pay for a dental assistant with office management skills: $19.35/hour
- 13% boost*
4. Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
- Average pay for a dental assistant with ACLS skills: $19.12/hour
- 12% boost*
5. Diagnosis and treatment planning
- Average pay for a dental assistant with diagnosis and treatment planning skills: $21.89/hour
- 11% boost*
6. Ceramic dental reconstruction (CEREC)
- Average pay for a dental assistant with CEREC skills: $19.00/hour
- 11% boost*
7. Prosthodontics
- Average pay for a dental assistant with prosthodontics skills: $19.04/hour
- 10% boost*
8. Phlebotomy
- Average pay for a dental assistant with phlebotomy skills: $18.49/hour
- 8% boost*
9. Order inventory
- Average pay for a dental assistant with order inventory skills: $18.43/hour
- 8% boost*
10. Dentrix
- Average pay for a dental assistant with Dentrix skills: $18.39/hour
- 8% boost*
Dental assistant fast facts
- In addition to the base dental assistant salary, you could also earn an additional bonus that ranges from $147–$3k, according to PayScale.
- Surveyed dental assistants were, on average, “highly satisfied” with their job.
- Dental assistant training can cost between $850–$7,560 on average and does not require a formal degree — though some states require prospective dental assistants to graduate from an accredited program and pass an exam.
Looking to find out more about dental assistant training before moving forward in your career?
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*Salary numbers gathered from PayScale.com, as of 05/06/2022.