Dental Assistant Salary

How much do dental assistants make?

How much dental assistants make is a popular question. Dental assistant salaries can vary between $20 and $30 per hour or more. Many factors can determine a dental assistant's salary. Some of the main factors that influence dental assistant pay are practice location, experience, education, and certification. We have the details in our dental assistants salary survey report.

View DANB's salary report

Certified Dental Assistants earn more

DANB’s Dental Assistants Salary and Satisfaction Survey shows that Certified Dental Assistants earn 15% more per hour than non-certified assistants. In 2024, Certified Dental Assistants earned a median hourly pay of $26 per hour, compared to $22.50 for dental assistants who are not certified.

Certification can boost your career

But there’s more. Earning DANB certification can help you grow your dental career in many ways. Dental assistants who earn DANB’s Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification benefit from:

  • Higher pay
  • More career opportunities
  • Increased pride and confidence
  • Standing out when applying for jobs
  • Greater career satisfaction

Certified Dental Assistants are leaders in the dental practice. They are more likely to be a lead dental assistant and more likely to train or supervise others. They also have more career opportunities and many go on to other roles in dentistry.

Learn about CDA certification

Start your dental assisting career journey today

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Learn how to become a Certified Dental Assistant.

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