Salaries Continue to Rise for DANB Certified Dental Assistants
CHICAGO (October 16, 2008) - The Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (DANB) has just released the results of its 2008 DANB Certificant Salary Survey, which found that pay rates for DANB Certified Assistants have gone up by more than 9 percent in the last two years, and remain higher than national averages for non-DANB Certified assistants.
The full-time respondents reported earning a median salary of $18.00 per hour, $1.50 an hour more than what DANB's 2006 Salary Survey results showed. DANB Certified Assistants also earn $2.38 more than non-DANB Certified assistants, according to adjusted figures from a 2007 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey.
DANB Certified Assistants in specialty practices make more than those employed in general dental practice, with periodontal assistants earning the most, with a median salary $19.00 per hour. Of the Certified Assistants who responded to the survey, 49% have taken an expanded functions course since becoming Certified.
DANB Certified Assistants also continue to report career and employer loyalty. Respondents have an average of 16.7 years of field experience and have been in their current position for an average of 9.4 years. Both of these figures are up from the 2006 survey.
Other key figures include:
- 73% of respondents work full time, with a median salary of $18.00
- 82% work in private practice, with a median salary of $18.00
- 67% work in general dentistry, with a median salary of $17.75
- DANB Certified Assistants report a median length of employment as a dental assistant of 16 years. Respondents working in the profession for 16-20 years earn a median salary of $18.00
- Respondents working in metropolitan areas earn a median salary of $18.98
According to respondents, the top three benefits of DANB Certification are self-gratification (83%), pride (75%) and recognition by employer (58%).
"The DANB Salary Survey was a great help to me when interviewing for jobs when [my husband and I] moved," one respondent said. "I wouldn't have known what to ask for in this area without that information, and would have asked for less."
Other respondents note the survey is beneficial in assessing current pay scales. "Thank you for issuing this survey. I share this with my employer so he can assess where he is at with wages and benefits."