If you’re interested in a career where you can use both your smarts and your people skills with a short window of training, you’re in luck. The job outlook for dental assistants looks fair to good across Canada.
The positive outlook for the field makes sense since the dental assistant salary competes well in our current job market.
What is an Average Dental Assistant Salary?
How much you make as a dental assistant depends on a variety of factors such as where you live, how much experience you have, and which degree you hold.
While you may be able to find a job as a dental assistant with just a high school diploma, you’ll be more likely to land a job with a reasonable salary if you have schooling in the dental assistant field.
Dental assistants average between $16 and $27 an hour at their jobs. However, this is just the start. Some companies offer bonuses ranging from $197 – $1,988 annually as well as profit sharing up to $700.
So with the right salary package, a dental assistant can make anywhere from $32,680 to $57,478.
Dental assistants can do well financially considering their short education. Quality dental assistant programs take around 20 months to complete.
What Does a Dental Assistant Do?
Dental assistants have varied skills that require the ability to be good with both information and people.
If you’re interested in the dental assistant field, you need to have the ability to study hard in a short amount of time. You will have to have a solid understanding of teeth as well as the basic procedures a dentist completes. A quality program will train you in the medical part of the assistant field.
But you must have more than just a decent IQ. You must also possess the personal skills to work well with people.
Many people experience dental phobia or anxiety, where just the thought of sitting in a dentist chair makes them tense up.
Dental assistants must have a calming demeanor to help maintain a peaceful environment in the exam room.
If you do not do well with the medical side of dentistry or if you do not relate well to people, you still could have a career as a dental assistant.
Some dental assistants handle administrative duties such as filing paperwork or working with insurance companies. You must be good at paying attention to details and handling the technology that comes with a growing dental practice.
Education and a Salary
If you’re interested in the dental assistant field, weigh all of your options. Your dental assistant salary will certainly pay more if you have the proper education and experience.
Consider shadowing a local dentist or dental assistant so you understand the field even more. Ask about the potential of an apprenticeship or internship after you’re done with formal education or even just a part-time summer job before you head off to school.
With experience, you’ll have confidence, and with confidence, you’ll see yourself land a job in this exciting field.
If you’re interested in more information about being a dental assistant, request a free information kit from our site.