Dental assistant pay

[rewJW]

Well, I lucked out and my dentist's office offered me a dental assistant job ... I still have to apply, but pretty much seems like I'll get it = AWESOME!

I don't know how much to ask for though. Looking back at dental assistant posts, the pay widely varies. There is a spot for "Pay desired" and I have to fill it in, lol ... I presently make $9.60 at my current retail job. I was going to ask for $10. (I have to list my current job and what my pay is so I didn't want to look greedy) ... but I just wanted to see if I can reasonably ask for more or not. Since I didn't get into dental school, I will probably be sticking around this place for the next year.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

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[claugh]

when i started out as a receptionist at a dental office (some lab work included in the job) I got $14 an hour which then increased after a couple of month. I think you should be fine asking for $15. in the worst case, he'll offer you less than that.

 

[DMDreaming]

This varies greatly from state to state and city to city. Colorado Workforce has a page where you can see the average wage by occupation. I don't know if New Jersey has one. BTW, the average entry level wage for a dental assistant in Colorado is approximately $25,000 per year. Our office starts "newbies" out at $12/ hour with reviews and potential raises at 30 day, 90 days and 6 months depending upon their professional growth. Most of our assistants make $15 - $19 / hour depending upon thier experience and job performance. Good luck to you!!

 

[andrew0k]

I dunno about New Jeresy. In California, when I started working in the dental office as a receptionist, I was getting paid $10, then after 2 month, got a raise to $12. I was there basically to learn, wasn't so concerned with the pay. I did learn a great deal about all aspect of dental front office from recall, accounts and receivable, insurance billing..etc. The other place I worked at, I got paid $11 for the similar type of work. Afterward, I wanted to do some back office stuff. I challenged the RDA exam and passed it. Then I obtained a RDA license, I was getting paid a little more about $16/h doing back office stuff ranging from taking prelim impression, pour models, chair-side assisting, taking x-rays, coronal polishing..etc.

 

[eventualOMFS]

.

 

[bruin432]

I work in Beverly Hills for an ortho and I have been making 12 the last 2 years 🙁 but, a lot of the other people working there make less than me.

 

[rose786]

I wonder what is the correct response to "What salary are you expecting?" type questions. I always write down "negotiable" on job apps, but I wonder if i might be doing myself a disservice?

 

[sublimeu4ea]

I was paid minimum wage at a below par dental office thinking that I was at least going to learn a lot, because I was too lax in my asking pay as well as researching the office.
I got into trouble for coming back from lunch 10 minutes early and leaving the office late, even when it was necessary because patients were early from lunch or late leaving at the end of the day. I spent NO TIME in the back office, and got stuck dealing with disgruntled patients and stuffing envelopes all day long. I mean, really? What kind of professional refuses to deal with an upset patient and makes the brand new front desk assistant try to "get rid of them".

I'll be honest though, I learned a lot about what NOT to do. I suggest starting with what you believe is fair, ask assistants you know what they would think is fair for an entering assistant. Definitely be sure of who you are working for, I was very scared that the admissions committee might hold my summer job against me because of who I worked for... thankfully they didn't.

 

[SoCalDent]

I got $20 assisting an OS.

 

[CSade469]

I get $20.00 hr. When i lived in VA and now in ST. Louis. It all depends on your expirence, and how much you know. When i first started i worked for free.. then moved from 7 dollars to 12 dollars to 16 dollars, to 19 dollars and now to 20.00.

 

[rose786]

$20 is nuts. Keep those jobs as long as you can.

Does $10/hr sound reasonable for someone just starting out, no experience?

 

[CMistry]

I started out with no experience, no training, at $7.25/hour. Since I was so thankful he took me aboard (I called 20 other dentists who wouldn't let me do anything but shadow without training) I haven't asked for a raise in the 8 months I've worked here. But I'm leaving in a few for D.School so should I care? I've learned so much in my time here.

-Cyrus

 

[SoCalDent]

$20 is nuts. Keep those jobs as long as you can.

Does $10/hr sound reasonable for someone just starting out, no experience?

$20 isn't nuts when you are paying $1200/month for a crappy one bedroom apartment.😡

 

[rewJW]

Thanks all for the advice. Interview for the position tomorrow 🙂

 

[dmille73]

I started out volunteering as an assistant at a local office. So i made no money. After 6 months he decided to start paying me so i started at minimum wage. 3 years later and not a single thing has changed. So take what you can get. In my opinion the experience is worth more than the money.

 

[Regmata]

I would put negotiable and when they ask you about it, tell them you are happy with the going rate.

 

[rose786]

$20 isn't nuts when you are paying $1200/month for a crappy one bedroom apartment.😡

Sorry, I meant "nuts" in a good way. 🙂 I guess it's relative to where you live. With the cost of living where I live, $20 is a lot.

 

[JEMDent]

$20 is nuts. Keep those jobs as long as you can.

Does $10/hr sound reasonable for someone just starting out, no experience?

$10/hr is definitely reasonable for no experience, but I would ask for more and say negotiable (like others mentioned) - that's what I did when I was just starting out... They ended up offering only $10/hr but the point is, they didn't turn me down just b/c I asked for more then they were willing to pay...

 

[mestizo212]

how do u get a dental assistant job without experience? do u just go to dental offices and ask them?

 

[SoCalDent]

Sorry, I meant "nuts" in a good way. 🙂 I guess it's relative to where you live. With the cost of living where I live, $20 is a lot.

I know what you meant, I just was trying to get the point accross that it doesn't really matter how much you are making. What really matters is how much you are making in comparison with where you live.

 

[ADentalHopeful]

you are exactly right with the comparison to where you live. Trained assistants in my area make at least 20. i dont know about no experience. Ive seen ads from 15 all the way to 28 so just depends on how much the dentist values you i guess

past 25 is usually for those with the ortho module or at least a couple years of assisting with the same dentist.

and if you cant get a house for less than 500 000 and gas is a buck 50 a L and insurance is 2500 a yr, then no it isnt a lot because it costs a lot to get to work and back and go home to sleep.


but i'd say ask for 15 as well, and if he doesnt like that and he says how bout 10, ask for 12 and then you'll probably get that... hostesses at restaurants make more than 12 here tho :S:S confusing.

 

[Quattro DMD]

I was a temporary dental assistant in AZ for about a month. I got 11.50/hour. My friend is an assistant now getting 12. Neither of us are certified so that my have something to do with why we were payed so little. I guess you should do it more for the experience as well as an excellent LOR because dental assisting isn't exactly a huge money maker.

 

[CSade469]

Not sure where you guys live, but when i lived in VA, and now i live in MO (STL), I get paid 20 dollars an hour. And no that is not a lot of money to ask for, esp. if you have experience. Think of it.. a doctor does a crown/bridge which cost the pat. about 1,000, and if you work for 8 hours, he only is paying you 160 dollars for a day of work.. umm.. figure out the math. And this is just ONE crown procedure... now figure out how many patients that doctor treats in a day, and how much the hygiene patients are seen in a day.. either way the doctor at the end.. after paying off building, instruments.. ect.. eventually they will be making the amout of money... do the math 🙂

 

[mshopeful]

I remember I used to look through job applications for my sister's Mrs. Fields store. Any application with too high of an asking pay got trashed immediately. It's probably a different story with dental offices though =)

Negotiable is smart answer. $10 is good considering no experience.

 

[rewJW]

Wow I can't believe there's still replies going on here lol. I ended up getting the job in March. I worked part time through the rest of the semester with a break during finals (I had 5 classes this semester so I just couldn't handle work and school anymore at that point ... the break turned out to be worthwhile, got straight A's this semester and ended up graduating cum laude 😀 ) .... the pay is not as high as I'd expect BUT I am soo glad I didn't turn it down because it's been the best experience of my life. I work with 8 different dentists each week, 4 of which are specialists, getting 40+ hours a week now that I'm out of school. I've learned so much it's unbelievable!