Salary/pay for a DA?

[save_a_smile]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi all,
I am a foreign trained dentist struggling hard to get thru the exams & into a dental school.For the time being I'm working as a DA.Its a very busy office,I work to my very best,but I don't feel I 'm getting paid well.I feel the dentist is exploiting coz i'm in such a need.What do u all,esp those who are working the same,feel-how much do u get paid?I mean,what is the minimum wages for a den.assistant[in usa] like me in your opinion?
I highly appreciate your replies.
Thanks

 

[drnishpatel]

Hi all,
I am a foreign trained dentist struggling hard to get thru the exams & into a dental school.For the time being I'm working as a DA.Its a very busy office,I work to my very best,but I don't feel I 'm getting paid well.I feel the dentist is exploiting coz i'm in such a need.What do u all,esp those who are working the same,feel-how much do u get paid?I mean,what is the minimum wages for a den.assistant[in usa] like me in your opinion?
I highly appreciate your replies.
Thanks

yeah man it happens go to dentalworkers.com search for average salary for DA in ur region n be firm in asking what u r worth of ...... or try a different job for DA no hassle in changing them..... u will find all job openings in this home page its official site....... for salary u can also try salary.com....👍

 

[dr_priya]

Does a FTD need to pass some exams or require any certificate to be a DA? Please guide as i also want to apply for a job like this.
Thanks!!

Hi all,
I am a foreign trained dentist struggling hard to get thru the exams & into a dental school.For the time being I'm working as a DA.Its a very busy office,I work to my very best,but I don't feel I 'm getting paid well.I feel the dentist is exploiting coz i'm in such a need.What do u all,esp those who are working the same,feel-how much do u get paid?I mean,what is the minimum wages for a den.assistant[in usa] like me in your opinion?
I highly appreciate your replies.
Thanks

 

[pink tooth]

Does a FTD need to pass some exams or require any certificate to be a DA? Please guide as i also want to apply for a job like this.
Thanks!!

yes you need to have da license esp for xrays and some require knowledge of dentrix, eaglesoft too to work even as a dental assistant...in usa nothing is possible without a license
gud luck n regards
pinktooth
😛

 

[Dentoman]

yes you need to have da license esp for xrays and some require knowledge of dentrix, eaglesoft too to work even as a dental assistant...in usa nothing is possible without a license
gud luck n regards
pinktooth
😛

Actually that is not accurate. It differs with states, but most will want you to have some form of xray certification but the software knowledge part is not really that important.

 

[giglybe]

hi
do u guys like the work of dental assistant..? i went there or a day but the job was just cleaning chairs and sterlization...and sometimes the dentist asks for somethings...it wasnt satisfying ...what were ur experiences? were u guyz knew the set up or u had to learn...had u seen all the things ?

 

[finish line]

yes u donot necessarily need a license in all states. My friend has a job and no certificate.

 

[finish line]

cleaning n sterilization is part of the DA job but not the only one

 

[save_a_smile]

Hi,
yes being a DA after working as a dentist from ur own country maynot be that pleasant.but in some ways its good,its ur own field& u get a chance to know how things r done in dentistry here.Where I work,i got to take x-rays,assist the dentists,make impressions,mixing cements etc,etc-basically what we did in dental school.I find it very useful,atleast u r in touch with the field till u get in school here.And here working as what or who doesn't matter,so sterilizing & all is not a big deal.This is what I feel!But I'm not at all happy with the pay,so thats how I started this thread,so that others who r like me & working cud share their experiences.

 

[dentistjas]

I am in the same boat of foreign dentist US dental assistant. I know I am not paid the best wages and not given the best benefits, but I am trying to make the best out of what I have in hand. Trying to accomodate and learn as much as I can. I am just going ahead with the confidence that this experience will surely help me in one good way or the other in future.
Regards to all 🙂

 

[giglybe]

i just went there for a day..i cant take xrays,impressions.....i am not certified to do so....the dentist was willing to pay me 10$ per hour..i think its the most meagre income.....anyways how many years of experience do u have as dentist? i dont have much..as i got married and from then just roaming in different countries.....

 

[Chompers]

i would say anywhere from $8-17, and even more for ortho assistants. depending on requirement for xrays & expanded duties for each state, anyone can be a DA. pay depends on the area, supply/demand/cost of living. aside from board scores, work experience is the next important thing.

 

[BDS-DDS]

well.
thats true that DA's get paid very less but for someone like me who is all by himself in this country.have to take care of my rent and bills and then study for the same exam again and again.I just know that income is not only important but also necessary for my survival.I work at a dental office,get paid $15/hr.I know its not a lot of money but then again as I said I have to survive.also more than all this hwta is more important is maintaining good rapport with the dentist so that u can get a good LOR.

 

[futurdentist]

I often ask myself these question:

1. Is working as a DA really worth it considering that you can make almost as much money in any other administartive job. (many offices offer a starting salary of $8, which is almost as much as the state's minimum wage)

2. The job of a DA involves more cleaning than dental work. Are we really willing to do that after working as dentists in our own countries ?