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Avg. salary range
$49k–$52k
across regions
Hours / Day
8
Days / Week
5
working days
About this career
Dental assistants support a dentist or other dental auxiliary in providing more efficient dental treatment. The dental assistant's role is to support the dental operator, preparing the patient for treatment, sterilizing instruments, assisting during procedures, exposing radiographs, taking impressions, and administration roles.
Career Level
Where you could work
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What you'll need
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Communication
Are you able to write or vocalize your thoughts efficiently? Can you retain information that you hear or read?
Attention To Detail
Do you often notice things that other people miss? Are you able to complete a project with few or no mistakes?
Strength/ Dexterity
Are you able to lift a moderate amount of weight without any issue? Can you stand or walk for an extended period of time?
Problem Solving
Do you enjoy solving puzzles? Are you able to easily identify the cause of a problem?
Education & Training
Certificate or Apprenticeship Program
Certificates and apprenticeships are available in skilled trades and career-oriented fields. Some programs offer coursework that is similar to that of associate's degree programs in the same subject, and students may be able to transfer their credits to associate's degree programs when they finish. Certificate programs usually take between one and two years to complete.
Compensation
North Central
Washington
Low
$46,900
Average
$51,700
High
$57,800
Washington minimum wage
Salary data reflects regional averages and may vary by employer, experience, and specialization.
Work Schedule
Shift cycle
5 on · 2 off per cycle
Typical shifts are 8 hours long but times vary. Shifts are usually Monday through Friday.
Where do we get our data?
Our career data is based on regional averages provided by the Spokane Workforce Council. Data is subject to change based on location, job specialty, experience level, and/or union association.
How does it compare?
Average Salary
$49,900
Overall Rank
175th
out of 199 careers
In Health Science
33rd
out of 39 careers
Salary distribution
Rankings are based on average salary data across all careers in our database. Individual earnings may vary.
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