Dental Assistant Salary?

I', currently a Dental Assistant and i provide chairside assistance, sterilize, keep the office clean, make casts from inpressions, inventory and many other things. I work as a dental assistant for 2 years and am pain 9.25 an hours. Am i being underpaid? what do you think?

Dental Assistant Salary?
It really depends on several factors; college degree, training, knowledge of dentistry, materials, equipment, procedures, ability to take x rays proficiently, aggressiveness, assertiveness, ability to communicate with patients pertaining to procedures, diagnosis conditions, ability to preform expanded duties and utilize four handed dentistry, and how well you exhibit your abilities in all areas of dentistry and how well you enjoy your work. It also depends on the area you are in, large city vs small will always pay higher wages just as northern always pays more than the southern states. Some positions pay better in regard to education and how well you relate to the patients. For 2 years experience I would tend to believe it's based on your abilities displayed in your position, confident in what you do or say, or nervous and can't give correct information to patients, can you keep accurate records, do you know the dental terminology, can you work with four handed dentistry, do you have to be told everything or perhaps it's just the time you've been in this type of work. You could always take a different approach, discuss this with your doctor and ask "how" or "what" you need to change in order to obtain a higher pay scale in your position. If you feel you are a good assistant, take an inventory of your self and consider all I've mentioned above. If you feel you deserve a higher pay scale than what is offered then you may need to look elsewhere to attain the pay for your skills and talents. Good luck, and don't think you are the only one this happens to, it happens quiet a lot with dentist who don't appreciate their good employees.
Reply:hell yeah you are underpaid. Even with all the benefits you get thats ridiculous pay. Especially if you went to school for it. Not worth it! I would change careers asap
Reply:i think you are definetly under paid.
Reply:I think that you are underpaid. I thought that average pay for an Assistant was 10.50-11.00 an hour. It does make a difference on where you live too.
Reply:You didn't mention one very important thing....where do you live? Salaries for all jobs vary greatly from region to region. In the midwest, most chairside dental assistants with 2 years of experience receive salaries between $10-13 per hour, depending on the office and other employment benefits like insurance.
Reply:Did you go to school or were you trained in house? The dentist may consider the training as part of your pay since they had to take alot of time to train you. If you havea degree or certificate or whatever you can always shop around for another job. If the dentist trained you for most of your tasks you are lucky to have the job at all.
Reply:I just started working as a dental assistant in January with no prior experience and I make 11.00 an hour and I'm located in NJ. Where are you located?

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