Dental assistant

Can anyone let me know what the going rate is per hour? What is it w/o experience and what is it w/? Does it differ in Nassau vs. SUffolk? TIA!

Re: Dental assistant

dental assistant wages vary quite a bit on LI.
an entry level position will usually pay between $10-$15 per hour. this will include assistants with boces or other trade school training but little or no hands on experience.

an assistant with average skills/experience can expect to get paid between $15-$24 per hour

Licensed/Certified/highly experienced DAs get paid between $25-$32 per hour

some offices have great benefits-health insurance, vacation time, 401k but unfortunately some offices still off no benefits at all.

I am the President of Long Island Dental Assistants Society, so let me know if you have more questions.

Re: Dental assistant

Re: Dental assistant

Craigslist is probably the best spot but sometimes career builder will have something. Dentists also use placement agencies that specialize in dental positions.
Do you have experience?

Re: Dental assistant

Posted by KellyFG


Licensed/Certified/highly experienced DAs get paid between $25-$32 per hour

I know hygienists coming out of college getting the high end of that. I think $32 for a DA no matter how qualified is insanity. And that's coming from someone who was one for 7 years

Re: Dental assistant

Re: Dental assistant

Posted by OneOfEach

Posted by KellyFG


Licensed/Certified/highly experienced DAs get paid between $25-$32 per hour

I know hygienists coming out of college getting the high end of that. I think $32 for a DA no matter how qualified is insanity. And that's coming from someone who was one for 7 years

I think any hygienist that is willing to work for less than $38 per hour is crazy. The hygienists I know that produce almost $200 per hour earn about $50 per hour which I believe is a fair and appropriate wage. State Licensed DAs like me hold a license that is issued the same way a hygiene license is issued. I also completed 300 hours of CE last year in addition to working as a DA 30 hours a week and running a dental Practice Management Coaching firm, because I'm 100% invested in my career as are most DA's I know that earn the top tier. My license allows for expanded functions like placing fillings and taking final impressions so the required skill set and liability (I hold my own malpractice policy) is much higher than that of an office trained DA. There are an estimated 26000 DAs in NY, less than 1000 hold a valid license. The opportunity is out there, unfortunately Dental Assisting is generally not viewed as a career and dentists would prefer to pay as little as possible, so very few DAs pursue it.
I am lecturing at the Greater Long Island Dental Meeting on April 13, my course offers 7 CE credits and I will be teaching practices to be more profitable so EVERYONE can earn more money. 600 billion dollars a year is spent on dentistry in the US, it is inexcusable to me that any dental professional on Long Island earns less than someone working the night shift at Taco Bell. It is my mission to change that. Are you a member of the Long Island Dental Hygiene Society? Together the state and local hygiene and assistant organizations are lobbying to make licensure mandatory for DAs in NY as it is in almost every other state.
I gave the OP the wide range because I think if newcomers to the field understood the potential we would have better people coming into the career path. And it is a fact, DAs DO EARN over $r0 per hour plus benefits.

Message edited 4/11/2011 12:39:11 PM.

Re: Dental assistant

Posted by KellyFG

Posted by OneOfEach

Posted by KellyFG


Licensed/Certified/highly experienced DAs get paid between $25-$32 per hour

I know hygienists coming out of college getting the high end of that. I think $32 for a DA no matter how qualified is insanity. And that's coming from someone who was one for 7 years

I think any hygienist that is willing to work for less than $38 per hour is crazy. The hygienists I know that produce almost $200 per hour year about $50 per hour which I believe is a fair and appropriate wage. State Licensed DAs like me hold a license that is issued the same way a hygiene license is issued. I also completed 300 hours of CE last year in addition to working as a DA 30 hours a week and running a dental Practice Management Coaching firm, because I'm 100% invested in my career as are most DA's I know that earn the top tier. My license allows for expanded functions like placing fillings and taking final impressions so the required skill set and liability (I hold my own malpractice policy) is much higher than that of an office trained DA. There are an estimated 26000 DAs in NY, less than 1000 hold a valid license. The opportunity is out there, unfortunately Dental Assisting is generally not viewed as a career and dentists would prefer to pay as little as possible, so very few DAs pursue it.
I am lecturing at the Greater Long Island Dental Meeting on April 13, my course offers 7 CE credits and I will be teaching practices to be more profitable so EVERYONE can earn more money. 600 billion dollars a year is spent on dentistry in the US, it is inexcusable to me that any dental professional on Long Island earns less than someone working the night shift at Taco Bell. It is my mission to change that. Are you a member of the Long Island Dental Hygiene Society? Together the state and local hygiene and assistant organizations are lobbying to make licensure mandatory for DAs in NY as it is in almost every other state.
I gave the OP the wide range because I think if newcomers to the field understood the potential we would have better people coming into the career path. And it is a fact, DAs DO EARN over $r0 per hour plus benefits.

In this economy you take what you can get. A new hygienist wants experience and very few dentists are willing to let them into their practice with wet feet. We have a girl we hired straight out of college for around $32 an hour and she jumped at the position. She's with us 3 yrs now and her salary has not changed much. I am very aware of the expanded duties certified DA's have. My point is what sets apart a hygienist and a dental assistant is a lot more school & much higher production for the practice. DA's and RDH's shouldn't be just a few dollars away from each other in salary. Just my opinion and it isn't a personal attack against you. You know a lot about the field and I respect that. Dr. Scharf just wrote an article recently on how to hire a RDH at the lowest possible salary because of this economy and how competitive the field is now. Needless to say I'm done taking CE credits from him. But Dr's are trying to low ball us so I can just imagine trying to get that kind of salary out of them for a DA. And yes, I am a member of LIDHA

Re: Dental assistant

To the OP we pay ours DA's $10-max 17 an hour. Our office is located in Suffolk. The highest salary I know of is an assistant with her office 15 yrs and making $25 an hr. Generally salaries in the field are higher in Nassau.

Message edited 4/11/2011 4:29:28 PM.

Re: Dental assistant

I have been an assistant for 15 years. The past 2 years, I also do front desk and deep bleaching as well. I make pretty good money. The range is definately broad, depending on experience. I have experience in specialists offices as well, so that helps. It will also depend on the Dr. - I have worked for some real cheapies, and some awesome ones that are willing to pay more for a good employee. Good luck in your search! Most dr's post on CL these days, but you can definately check Newsday and the town papers too. Also, there is a definate pay increase in Nassau than Suffolk.