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Employment Outlook for Dental Assistants
Find Dental Assistant Training Near You
Becoming a dental assistant (also known as chairside assistant) used to require on-the-job training and some general office experience, but dental assisting today is much more rigorous and involved thanks to increased technology and advances in science. If you're serious about becoming a dental assistant these days, securing a dental assisting degree from a vocational school, community college, or junior college is your best bet. This type of formal training will help you go much farther, much faster than on-the-job training ever could.
Chairside Assistant Salary Potential
According to the US Department of Labor, the median hourly wage of a dental assistant hovered between $13 and $14 in 2004. Dental assistants on the upper end made roughly $20 an hour. And of course, the vast majority of dental assistants receive dental coverage, which is a major plus.
Advancement and Employment Potential for Dental Assistants
The US Department of Labor indicates favorable growth for this particular career path. In fact, it actually says that dental assisting will be "one of the fastest growing occupations over the 2004-14 projection period." This is in large part due to the fact that people are taking dental hygiene much more seriously than ever before. In addition, there's tremendous pressure to have that "perfect smile" in a world driven by fashion, success, and glamour. Suffice to say that if you have completed the requisite training at a recognized vocational school or community college, you will be well positioned for excellent career growth and employment prospects later down the road.
Are you interested in a career as a dental assistant? Click here for a list of dental assistant schools.