2013 Florida dental assisting salary survey

2013 Florida dental assisting salary survey

(National averages or percentages are in the parentheses to allow for comparison)

• Most common hourly rates: $15, $18, $19, $20 ($18)
• % who earn $30 or more an hour: 4% (6%)
• % who last received a raise more than a year ago: 57% (56%)
• % who believe raises occur at fair intervals: 38% (41%)
• % who would recommend dental assisting as a profession: 77% (73%)
• % who envision continued employment as a dental assistant three years from now: 79% (71%)

Selected comments from Florida:

• I believe dental assistants deserve more and should be remunerated for their level of responsibility and skill. Credentials should mean something in this equation. I would love to see the entry level increase to $18 an hour starting for CDA, EFDA. Instead, they are still averaging $12 (where they have been for the last 25 years). Really?
• It depends on the office. My boss does not give raises. I have been with him for 5 years. It is a great office and sometimes you have to weigh what is important to you.
• Assistants whom have moved beyond sitting chairside only — fabricating CAD/CAM crowns, heading departments, etc. — should have much higher salaries than simple chairside assistants.
• Too many on-the-job-training assistants bring our salaries down; dentists take advantage of the OJT status and pay very low wages
• After working for 30-plus years as an assistant. I am maxed out. However, there are those bonus incentives!
• Dental assistants need good educational programs run by competent individuals. Assistants should be side by side with the hygiene department when in college programs.
• Dental assisting is a good part time job, if you are not the only breadwinner in the household
• If you are not a pushy person in the dental field, I feel you get taken advantage of. Florida is not a good place for this profession.
• There are too many fly-by-night programs in the state of Florida. They are graduating below par assistants and expecting employers to do all the real training. Students are paying high fees and are not getting what they pay for.
• I think it is a wonderful profession and I have being a assistant for 26 years, 23 of those years as a CDA. I love what I do, and recommend it to anyone looking for a rewarding career.
• With all of the new high tech equipment, digital radiography, and myriad of dental software programs out there, dental assisting has become a good way for the "younger" generation to put their talents to work for a professional purpose !
• As someone that does the hiring of our dental assistants, it is very disappointing that few CDAs apply. And the dentists are fine with this!

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