How much should an Registered dental assistant get paid per hour . I became an RDA recently in California.?

I have 10 years of experience as a Dental Assistant, I have X- ray license and coronal polishing certificate.I can take digital and traditional x-rays, take impressions for study models, pouring them,sterilize and desinfect intruments and I know averything related to chair side assisting

How much should an Registered dental assistant get paid per hour . I became an RDA recently in California.?
first where do you live? small or large town, will you work for a corporation or group or private practice? general or specialty? in southern calif you could make 12-16 easily but in order to push thru that threshold you will need to stay with that dr. for a while if you are hired at 16 dont expect to make 30-40 in 10-20 years, like wise if you leave a job which you have held for many years, and are being paid above 16 or 20 that reflects your value to that dr. not to a new dr. whom you dont now yet...
Reply:Depends on DA's Qs and patient patronage of the dentist!
Reply:I dont know about California but in KY DA's usually start around 7 per hour and top out around in the 9-10 dollar an hour range. Not nearly enough for what you know and do. A hygeinist however makes over 20 dollars per hour here. If your wanting to really get paid, check on a program and get back in school. You'll be glad you did 1 day and sooner than you think.
Reply:Personally, I don't believe that the certifications that an assistant carries, is what should decide what her salary is. I have seen RDA's and CDA's who are terrible chairside. Book knowledge and actual excellent chairside skills are two totally different things. You can't base a salary on the things that you mentioned. There are just too many variables. Do you have extensive knowledge of implants? How good are you at making temporaries? Could you make 12 units of temporaries in less than an hour and have them look and fit well?





No offense, but taking x-rays, taking impressions, pouring models, sterilization and normal chairside duties, are things that every assistant, whether they have 1 year or 10 years of experience, should know. It is all the "x-tras" that make the difference between a good assistant and a great assistant.





So that said, what are all the x-tra's that you know or can do? Those are what should determine your pay scale, not the normal things that any assistant should know.





But, just to give an actual dollar amount, I would say that you should make no less than $15.00 an hour. Anything above that, really depends on your specific skill level.
Reply:Ok well Im a dental assistant student myself. So u took Infection Control and Jurisprudence exams too. Did u went to school or u didnt? Depends on the paying an hour, this is what i was told, dont matter how many years of experience u have. If u work in general dentistry u will get paid about $10-15 an hour. If u work in the speciality areas like orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, or with the oral surgeons, u are going to get paid even more an hour than general dentistry. Its not hard to look for a job in this field, because they always need dental assistants.
Reply:not sure where you are but up here(western Canada) certified dental assistants start from $16-19 an hour, i started at $17.50 right outta school, but with exp. id say maybe $22... hygienists can get prob $45-60 easy,

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