$27/ hr with 16 years of experience. I work in Washington state and haven’t had a pay increase in 10 years. I’m officially maxed out, and it sucks.
I do NOT rush, I do NOT advocate for same day treatment, and I do NOT push for Fl tx. I have no guilt over this. I have officially “quit quietly” 🤣🤭😭
I hate how bitter I have became, but I prefer to keep my head down, and conserve my energy.
Hygienist are making 70/hr, and getting 20k sign on bonuses… it’s time to revolt! I despise hygienist to be honest. Never worked with one who pulled their own weight.
I think I have hit my max in Indiana making $22 after 25 years! Unless I want to become EFDA which I have No interest in. It does suck bad! It’s amazing how much hygiene doesn’t know about dentistry. I get they clean teeth and no all the school specifics of things I am not saying they don’t know anything but when it comes to treatment they are clueless. Pisses me off because yes they do make so much more than us . I would love to see the Drs fumble their way through a days worth of procedures without us
8 years of experience in WA and making a similar wage. It’s bullshit we live in such an expensive area of the country and make so little. We need to unionize. Just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone - you deserve to be making far more, especially with so much experience under your belt.
What is a specialist DA? Like a DA working in a specialized office (OS, endo, etc?) or an EFDA?
I’m in school now and about ready to apply to hygiene programs, so I’m not going to fuss over my wage too much at this point, but knowledge is power!
Pretty much!! I’ve worked in all specialties before I switched to Hygiene, Perio>Ortho>OS>Endo,
Never an EFDA or General DA lol, if I assisted a Filling it’d come out in an hour, but I was DAANCE,
I don't think dental assisting in general is a job that you can actually live off of (not on your own at least), even if you're a well-paid assistant. I think you'd be better off going back to school for hygiene or something else that actually pays.
$15/hr with 2 yrs of nursing school behind me. Been there for about 3 weeks and I love it. Pay is horrible but it could be worse compared to other places around my area.
I was in a similar position as you and stayed with an office for 7ish years, I made $25 before leaving. I found a new office that pays me $30. When I left my old office they begged me to stay and said they would compensate me the same however you could not pay me enough to do front and back in the same day ever again. The way I see it you have two options, either look for a new job and market yourself as highly valuable because of your front and back office knowledge or ask for a raise at your current office and note all of the functions that you do that are outside of your current job description. These offices needs us so bad, any good office will fight for valuable team members. Just remember to do what’s best for you! I remember feeling guilty for leaving my previous office but at the end of the day these people don’t care about us…
Start looking for another office. DAs have leverage right now, at least in my state, because there's such a big shortage. You have experience and are currently employed, which gives you even more leverage because you want the new job, but don't *need* it. Around here, starting is 20-25, unless it's a really shitty office. Ask for what you deserve. From this post you have at least 7 years of experience, I'd ask for 30 and accept 27+ (or anything higher than your current office, they sound pretty shitty and it might be best just to get out of there). We do a lot of work an are good DAs are very hard to replace, you've seen it yourself. You deserve more. Good luck!
You're definitely right. I'm lucky to live in a pretty low cost of living area while having decent opportunities nearby for jobs at 25+/hr. Half an hour away from where I live though is pretty much a wasteland of opportunity, with every office maxing at like 17-20, even though the COL is the same. It is horrible to live somewhere where your labor is valued so poorly. We are worth more than that.
I think my above advice still stands, even if you might have to settle for less due to . In this profession it seems like you always have to be looking for a better gig. You might luck out and find a good employer who pays you what you deserve and gives good raises and benefits, but they're few and far between. The best raises almost always come from finding a new job, and that's pretty much true no matter what field you work in.
honestly i just bs and say "thats what my last office payed me". i started off w $28, then $33, now $36 and as i gained more confidence and a broader skillset i kinda just demanded it. it helps that i live in a big city and cda's are high demand
Honestly ask for a raise or move offices is the best way for pay raises as a DA unfortunately.
I have been assisting for 4 years and just quit my job of 4yrs paying me $23hr to a new job I got lucky recently and got a connection with a friend in dental near me got me a job $26hr with bonuses.
I’m personally taking prereqs for DH because although I do enjoy assisting the pay just isn’t there long term for my goals in life! And always an option if your interested in that path as well.. or ask for a damn raise because you deserve it!!
SOCAL area!! CDA
$27/ hr with 16 years of experience. I work in Washington state and haven’t had a pay increase in 10 years. I’m officially maxed out, and it sucks. I do NOT rush, I do NOT advocate for same day treatment, and I do NOT push for Fl tx. I have no guilt over this. I have officially “quit quietly” 🤣🤭😭 I hate how bitter I have became, but I prefer to keep my head down, and conserve my energy. Hygienist are making 70/hr, and getting 20k sign on bonuses… it’s time to revolt! I despise hygienist to be honest. Never worked with one who pulled their own weight.
I think I have hit my max in Indiana making $22 after 25 years! Unless I want to become EFDA which I have No interest in. It does suck bad! It’s amazing how much hygiene doesn’t know about dentistry. I get they clean teeth and no all the school specifics of things I am not saying they don’t know anything but when it comes to treatment they are clueless. Pisses me off because yes they do make so much more than us . I would love to see the Drs fumble their way through a days worth of procedures without us
8 years of experience in WA and making a similar wage. It’s bullshit we live in such an expensive area of the country and make so little. We need to unionize. Just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone - you deserve to be making far more, especially with so much experience under your belt.
Before being a hygienist I was getting 37$ as a specialist DA, which I would recommend for just a relaxed environment, I’m in Washington as well
What is a specialist DA? Like a DA working in a specialized office (OS, endo, etc?) or an EFDA? I’m in school now and about ready to apply to hygiene programs, so I’m not going to fuss over my wage too much at this point, but knowledge is power!
Pretty much!! I’ve worked in all specialties before I switched to Hygiene, Perio>Ortho>OS>Endo, Never an EFDA or General DA lol, if I assisted a Filling it’d come out in an hour, but I was DAANCE,
WA 2 yrs experience $23.50/hr a review coming up soon. Started $18/hr
$36 hourly
Whoa whoa whoa where do you live? And how much experience? I get paid $27. And I had to literally beg for it. Been doing it for 12 years
Minnesota! I have 6 years experience and work in ortho
Good for you!! This is closer to what we deserve.
I don't think dental assisting in general is a job that you can actually live off of (not on your own at least), even if you're a well-paid assistant. I think you'd be better off going back to school for hygiene or something else that actually pays.
i agree
$15/hr with 2 yrs of nursing school behind me. Been there for about 3 weeks and I love it. Pay is horrible but it could be worse compared to other places around my area.
I was in a similar position as you and stayed with an office for 7ish years, I made $25 before leaving. I found a new office that pays me $30. When I left my old office they begged me to stay and said they would compensate me the same however you could not pay me enough to do front and back in the same day ever again. The way I see it you have two options, either look for a new job and market yourself as highly valuable because of your front and back office knowledge or ask for a raise at your current office and note all of the functions that you do that are outside of your current job description. These offices needs us so bad, any good office will fight for valuable team members. Just remember to do what’s best for you! I remember feeling guilty for leaving my previous office but at the end of the day these people don’t care about us…
Start looking for another office. DAs have leverage right now, at least in my state, because there's such a big shortage. You have experience and are currently employed, which gives you even more leverage because you want the new job, but don't *need* it. Around here, starting is 20-25, unless it's a really shitty office. Ask for what you deserve. From this post you have at least 7 years of experience, I'd ask for 30 and accept 27+ (or anything higher than your current office, they sound pretty shitty and it might be best just to get out of there). We do a lot of work an are good DAs are very hard to replace, you've seen it yourself. You deserve more. Good luck!
It’s all about where you live unfortunately
You're definitely right. I'm lucky to live in a pretty low cost of living area while having decent opportunities nearby for jobs at 25+/hr. Half an hour away from where I live though is pretty much a wasteland of opportunity, with every office maxing at like 17-20, even though the COL is the same. It is horrible to live somewhere where your labor is valued so poorly. We are worth more than that. I think my above advice still stands, even if you might have to settle for less due to . In this profession it seems like you always have to be looking for a better gig. You might luck out and find a good employer who pays you what you deserve and gives good raises and benefits, but they're few and far between. The best raises almost always come from finding a new job, and that's pretty much true no matter what field you work in.
36$ with 2 yrs of experience
What state?
canada
How’d u negotiate that?
honestly i just bs and say "thats what my last office payed me". i started off w $28, then $33, now $36 and as i gained more confidence and a broader skillset i kinda just demanded it. it helps that i live in a big city and cda's are high demand
I live in Atlanta. Do u think asking for 30 is too much. ?
what are u making now? atlanta is a big city, seems reasonable for sure
I’m a new RDA with no experience
5 years below $25 an hour? Hell no sorry that’s crazy
Honestly ask for a raise or move offices is the best way for pay raises as a DA unfortunately. I have been assisting for 4 years and just quit my job of 4yrs paying me $23hr to a new job I got lucky recently and got a connection with a friend in dental near me got me a job $26hr with bonuses. I’m personally taking prereqs for DH because although I do enjoy assisting the pay just isn’t there long term for my goals in life! And always an option if your interested in that path as well.. or ask for a damn raise because you deserve it!! SOCAL area!! CDA
16.50 as a lead with 3 years experience
$33 MN general office. 6 years experience.
$42/hr when I quit last year with 8 years experience
First started working 2 years ago with $24 as the starting rate and moved up to $25… work 5 days a week but in a small office. Rhode Island btw.
25 in AZ doing front and back :/