A lot of individuals are heading towards the healthcare field and a profession as a dental assistant is one of the more popular ones. One of the factors that draw people into this profession is the attractive salary. Other than the rewarding salary, a dental assistant's day to day work can be quite satisfying. This is also an excellent career choice for those who are thinking of entering the dental field.

Although a dental assistant's salary differs by the type and the size of the practice, their jobs are generally the same. Usually, their job includes preparing and stocking treatment rooms, ensuring that the practice is well stocked, assisting in educating patients on proper dental hygiene routines, sterilizing tools and equipment, exposing dental radiographs, talking and creating patient impression, getting required dental requirements for treatment and they also often assist with numerous front office administrative and billing tasks.

A dental assistant's salary depends on the type of work you do and the position you hold. Your salary is smaller if your work in a smaller office whereas you can expect a higher pay if you work in a large office with many dentists. The city you are located in can also affect your salary. For example, if you are located in a big city like New York City, you can earn up to $17 per hour whereas a smaller city like Bloomington, Indiana may only pay you $13.

As most jobs go, your experience is the factor that affects your salary the most. A dental assistant's salary is proportional to their experience. The fresh graduates definitely do not earn much since this is the starting phase of their career. But as you gain more experience, you can see a steady increase in your salary. While first timers usually get no more than $11 an hour, those who have been working for some time in the industry can easily earn up $20 an hour or more.

Your education may also determine how much pay you can get. Those who got their qualification from an accredited dental program earn more as compared to those who get their certification from online programs. There are even employers who place an importance in your schooling qualification.

Job prospects for dental assistants are expected to be good and the salary is quite worth the minimal education and training requirements. The average annual salary for this job in May 2008 was approximately $32000. The lowest annual salary earned was about $22000 which was made up of 10% of the dental assistant population and the highest annual salary was about $46000 which was also made up of 10% of the population. So, given the effort and the experience gained, a dental assistant's career might be a smart choice for those who are interested in this career path.