Healthcare career

Dental Assistant

Also called: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) · Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) · Chairside Assistant

What dental assistants do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
What does a dental assistant do?

Dental assistants prepare patients and treatment rooms, hand instruments and suction during procedures, take dental X-rays, sterilize instruments, and handle records and scheduling in dental offices. The median pay is $48,070 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 9–12 months, and employment is projected to grow +7.4% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

  • Median pay
    $48,070
    $23.11/hour · May 2025
  • Job growth
    +7.4%
    2025–35, much faster than average
  • Openings per year
    53,000
    Average, 2025–35
  • Typical entry education
    Postsecondary nondegree award
    BLS classification
  • Time to train
    9–12 months
    Typical program length
  • U.S. jobs
    388,600
    Employment, 2025

What dental assistants do

Dental assistants keep the dental office running smoothly and safely. They seat patients, review health histories, pass instruments during procedures using four-handed dentistry, keep the mouth clear with suction, mix materials, expose and process radiographs, and teach patients about oral hygiene.

Requirements vary a lot by state. Some states allow on-the-job training, while others require a formal program, radiography certification or registration, especially for expanded functions such as placing sealants or polishing. Most programs take nine to twelve months.

Typical duties

  • Prepare treatment rooms and seat patients
  • Review medical histories and take vital signs
  • Pass instruments and use suction during procedures
  • Take and process dental radiographs (X-rays) where certified
  • Clean and sterilize instruments and maintain infection control
  • Mix dental materials and take impressions as allowed by state law
  • Give post-procedure and oral hygiene instructions; schedule appointments

Work environment and schedule

Nearly all dental assistants work in dentists’ offices; some work in specialty practices such as orthodontics or oral surgery, public health clinics or dental schools. Work is indoors, with frequent close patient contact. PPE such as gloves, masks and eyewear is worn throughout the day.

Schedule: Mostly full-time weekday hours, sometimes with evenings or Saturdays to fit patient schedules.

A day in the life

  1. Run sterilizer spore-test records, set up operatories and review the day’s schedule with the dentist.
  2. Seat the first patient, update their health history and take bitewing X-rays.
  3. Assist with a two-surface composite filling: pass instruments, retract, suction and cure the material.
  4. Break down the room, process instruments through ultrasonic cleaning and the autoclave and disinfect surfaces.

See a full day in the life of a dental assistant →

Dental Assistant salary

Half of dental assistants earned more than $48,070 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $37,130 for the lowest 10% to $62,250 for the top 10%.

Full dental assistant pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a dental assistant

  1. Finish high school
  2. Complete a dental assisting program
  3. Earn required state credentials
  4. Earn the CDA
  5. Specialize or advance

Many dental assistants complete a nine- to twelve-month certificate program at a community college or technical school. Some states allow on-the-job training, but most require radiography certification before you take X-rays, and some require registration or licensure for expanded duties.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a dental assistant →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

  • Chairside assisting (four-handed dentistry)
  • Dental radiography
  • Infection control and sterilization
  • Dental terminology and tooth numbering
  • Impressions and dental materials

People skills

  • Putting nervous patients at ease
  • Anticipating the dentist’s needs
  • Attention to detail
  • Teamwork

All dental assistant skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Short training path and steady demand
  • Predictable daytime hours in most offices
  • Hands-on, patient-centered work
  • Options to specialize or move into hygiene or office management

Cons

  • Repetitive tasks and long periods in fixed positions
  • Exposure to bodily fluids and radiation requires strict safety
  • Scope varies by state, which can limit duties
  • Pay growth is limited without expanded functions or further education

Certifications and licenses

  • CDA (DANB): Certified Dental Assistant from the Dental Assisting National Board, covering general chairside, radiation health and safety, and infection control.
  • RHS and ICE (DANB): Radiation Health and Safety and Infection Control exams, often used to meet state requirements.
  • State radiography or RDA credential: Many states require specific certification or registration to take X-rays or perform expanded functions.
  • CPR / BLS: Required by most employers.

Career path

  1. Dental Assistant: Assist chairside and keep the office safe.
  2. Expanded-Function or Specialty Assistant: Add duties such as sealants or coronal polishing, or specialize in ortho or oral surgery.
  3. Lead Assistant or Office Manager: Train staff and manage operations.
  4. Dental Hygienist or Practice Administrator: Pursue licensure in hygiene or move into practice management.

Learn the job before day one

Our Dental Assistant training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as process and sterilize dental instruments and take bitewing x-rays, safety and how to land your first job.

View Dental Assistant trainingIs this career right for me?

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Dental Assistant FAQ

Do dental assistants need to be certified?

It depends on the state. Some states allow on-the-job training, while others require formal education, exams or registration, especially to take X-rays or perform expanded functions.

What’s the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist?

Dental hygienists complete an associate degree or higher, are licensed, and clean teeth and assess gum health. Dental assistants support the dentist and office, with duties set by state law.

Can dental assistants work in orthodontics?

Yes. Orthodontic assistants help with braces, aligners, impressions and patient education, and duties vary by state.

How much does a dental assistant make?

The median annual wage for dental assistants was $48,070 ($23.11 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,130 and the highest 10% earned more than $62,250.

How long does it take to become a dental assistant?

Most people need about 9–12 months of training. Many dental assistants complete a nine- to twelve-month certificate program at a community college or technical school. Some states allow on-the-job training, but most require radiography certification before you take X-rays, and some require registration or licensure for expanded duties.

Do you need a degree to be a dental assistant?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “postsecondary nondegree award” as the typical entry-level education.

More dental assistant questions →

Sources

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

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