SOC 31-9091.00Bright outlook

    Dental Assistants

    Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist.

    Median pay
    $48,070
    Growth
    +7.4%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    53,000
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $37,130
    Median
    $48,070
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $62,250
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    387,790 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Dental assistants support dentists by preparing equipment, helping during clinical procedures, and handling office tasks. The career offers a median annual pay of $48,070, with opportunities available nationwide.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What dental assistants do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Dental assistants handle a mix of clinical and administrative tasks to keep dental offices running smoothly. On the clinical side, they prepare patients for treatment, sterilize instruments, and assist dentists during procedures. They also teach patients how to care for their teeth and gums after treatment. Their administrative duties include scheduling appointments, managing medical records, billing, and processing insurance codes.

    This role requires strong conventional interests, meaning workers thrive in structured, orderly environments. Key skills include active listening, clear speaking, and social perceptiveness when interacting with patients. Dental assistants must be highly dependable, cautious, and detail-oriented to ensure patient safety. They rely on their knowledge of medicine, dentistry, and customer service to provide high-quality care. Day-to-day tasks involve gathering information, inspecting dental equipment, using computers, and collaborating closely with dental office staff.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, candidates typically need a postsecondary certificate. The career falls under O*NET Job Zone 3, which requires medium preparation such as vocational training, an associate degree, or related on-the-job experience. Students generally major in dental support services and allied professions.

    Depending on the employer and location, dental assistants can pursue various professional certifications. Options include the Certified Dental Assistant - General Chairside Assisting, Certified Orthodontic Assistant, or Certified Preventative Functions Dental Assistant, all offered by the Dental Assisting National Board. Other credentials include the Dental Assisting Radiography and Registered Dental Assistant certifications from the American Medical Technologists, as well as the Dental Support Technician Certification from the American Medical Certification Association. Additionally, some states list a license for this work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for dental assistants was $48,070. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,130 and the highest 10% earning more than $62,250.

    With 387,790 people employed in this field, the occupation is growing. Employment is projected to increase by 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in approximately 53,000 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    58 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    43 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    56 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    6 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    74 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CRS. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    89
    Assisting and Caring for Others
    87
    Working with Computers
    86
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    84
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    80
    Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    79
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    78
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    76
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    76
    Scheduling Work and Activities
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Learning
    • Instructing
    • Monitoring
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Critical Thinking

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • English Language
    • Administration and Management
    • Administrative
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Production and Processing
    • Personnel and Human Resources
    • Psychology

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Speech Recognition
    • Written Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Problem Sensitivity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cooperation
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Empathy
    • Social Orientation
    • Self-Control
    • Sincerity
    • Stress Tolerance

    Also called

    Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) · Certified Registered Dental Assistant · Dental Aide · Dental Assistant (DA) · Dental Nurse · Dental Office Assistant · Dental Specialist · Dentist Attendant · Expanded Dental Assistant · Expanded Duties Dental Assistant

    Career pathway

    From your interests to dental assistants

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Dental Assistants$48,070 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of the Pacific logo
      University of the Pacific

      Stockton, CA · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $93,453
      4 yrs after
      $86,150
      Median debt
      $24,950
    2. 2
      West Coast University-Orange County

      Anaheim, CA · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $83,943
      4 yrs after
      $85,797
      Median debt
      $28,250
    3. 3
      Lake Washington Institute of Technology

      Kirkland, WA · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $106,697
      4 yrs after
      $85,286
      Median debt
      $15,900
    4. 4MCPHS University logo
      MCPHS University

      Boston, MA · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $70,434
      4 yrs after
      $83,253
      Median debt
      $25,000
    5. 5
      Foothill College

      Los Altos Hills, CA · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $82,028
      Median debt
      $23,000
    6. 6Community College of Denver logo
      Community College of Denver

      Denver, CO · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $81,896
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7University of Hawaii at Manoa Main Campus logo
      University of Hawaii at Manoa Main Campus

      Honolulu, HI · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $76,939
      4 yrs after
      $79,863
      Median debt
      Not reported
    8. 8Loma Linda University logo
      Loma Linda University

      Loma Linda, CA · Dental Support Services and Allied Professions · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $82,823
      4 yrs after
      $79,207
      Median debt
      $20,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What dental assistants may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Dental Assisting/Assistant

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    50 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about dental assistants

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are also known as Certified Dental Assistants (CDA), Dental Aides, Dental Nurses, Dental Office Assistants, and Dental Specialists. Some roles with expanded clinical responsibilities are called Expanded Dental Assistants or Expanded Duties Dental Assistants.

    What is the job outlook for dental assistants?

    The career is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average growth rate. There are expected to be 53,000 job openings each year to meet demand and replace departing workers.

    What are some related careers in the healthcare support field?

    If you are interested in this line of work, you might also consider becoming a dental hygienist, medical assistant, ophthalmic medical technician, surgical assistant, endoscopy technician, or dental laboratory technician.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.