Dental Assistants — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$48,070
United States, 2025
Employment
387,790
United States, 2025
Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 31-9091.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Pour, trim, and polish study casts.
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$37,130
25th percentile
$44,340
75th percentile
$58,090
90th percentile
$62,250
Most important skills
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Service Orientation3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Instructing3.1
- Writing3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 11 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
11
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.4 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $300,080
Compare with Dental AssistantsSupplemental
National median $358,550
Compare with Dental AssistantsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $74,600 | 2,870 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $72,370 | 3,910 | 2025 |
| MN | $65,270 | 5,980 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $64,390 | 7,530 | 2025 |
| Rochester, MN | $63,450 | 320 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $62,040 | 7,100 | 2025 |
| Portland, ME | $61,240 | 830 | 2025 |
| Mankato, MN | $61,010 | 120 | 2025 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $61,000 | 270 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60,590 | 680 | 2025 |
| DC | $60,580 | 630 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 | 230 | 2025 |
| ME | $60,070 | 1,550 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | $59,890 | 4,120 | 2025 |
| Manchester, NH | $59,700 | 600 | 2025 |
| Bend, OR | $59,590 | 420 | 2025 |
| NH | $59,530 | 1,600 | 2025 |
| OR | $59,490 | 5,930 | 2025 |
| Duluth, MN | $59,390 | 310 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | $59,210 | 570 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Dental Assistants to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.