How much do dental assistants make in louisiana

The median 2013 dental assistant salary in Louisiana was $28,800 a year. Experienced dental assistants earned $34,190 on average, while the salary for those entering the workforce was $24,320.

The median salaries for Louisiana dental assistants varied by over $6,000 between the different regional labor market areas (RLMA) in the state.

The highest median salary was in the New Orleans RLMA:

  • New Orleans – $30,868
  • Monroe – $30,723
  • Lake Charles – $29,648
  • Shreveport – $28,410
  • Baton Rouge – $28,311
  • Alexandria – $27,577
  • Lafayette – $25,884
  • Houma – $24,808

In 2012, 3,563 dental assistants were employed in Louisiana. The field of dental assisting is growing for several reasons. There is a much greater understanding of the link between oral and general health. This is leading to an increase in preventative dental care that is frequently carried out by dental assistants. Also, more of the aging U.S. population is keeping its original teeth, creating a growing demand for dental care.

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The number of dental assistant jobs in Louisiana is projected to increase by 1% a year in the ten-year period ending in 2022, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The Commission predicts that 112 medical assistant jobs a year will become available in the state on average. Two thirds of these jobs will be to replace workers who will leave the field. The remaining 38 jobs will come from growth in the dental assisting field.

The BLS also provides a detailed breakdown of 2013 dental assisting salaries in the metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas of Louisiana:

Area name

Employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

Hourly median wage

Hourly 75th percentile wage

Hourly 90th percentile wage

Annual median wage

Annual 75th percentile wage

Annual 90th percentile wage

Alexandria LA

80

12.96

26960

12.87

16.09

17.71

26770

33460

36840

Baton Rouge LA

630

13.81

28720

13.30

16.05

18.22

27670

33390

37910

Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux LA

170

12.54

26090

11.93

14.21

17.54

24810

29550

36480

Lafayette LA

340

12.77

26570

12.46

14.19

16.48

25920

29520

34280

Lake Charles LA

160

15.63

32510

14.65

19.14

21.60

30470

39810

44930

Monroe LA

250

13.99

29100

14.37

17.17

19.72

29890

35720

41010

New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner LA

1290

14.94

31070

14.90

16.95

18.19

31000

35260

37830

Shreveport-Bossier City LA

340

14.11

29350

13.52

16.71

20.40

28130

34760

42430

Hammond nonmetropolitan area

70

16.02

33310

16.07

17.83

20.23

33420

37090

42080

Natchitoches nonmetropolitan area

160

13.63

28360

13.38

14.81

17.91

27830

30800

37250

Winnsboro nonmetropolitan area

130

13.97

29060

14.32

16.56

17.90

29790

34450

37240

New Iberia nonmetropolitan area

210

12.25

25480

12.33

13.88

15.07

25640

28860

31340

Are you interested in dental assistant jobs? Read on as we discuss the average salary of dental assistants across the United States and Canada.

Dental assistants serve as aides to dentists and their hygienists. With the American Dental Assistant’s Association as their professional organization, dental assistants in the U.S. can become registered and certified on a state as well as a national level.

The U.S. Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) offers five national certifications:

  • National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA®)
  • Certified Dental Assistant™ (CDA®)
  • Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA®)
  • Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA®)
  • Certified Restorative Functions Dental Assistant (CRFDA®)

The higher the certification and specialization level, the higher salary you can expect.

According to the Canadian Dental Assistants Association, each Canadian province has its own governing body with specific requirements. 74% of Canadian dental assistants are registered, certified, or licensed under the jurisdiction of the provincial Dental Assisting Regulatory Authorities (DARA).

What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

Each dental assistant job description varies by employer but generally includes:

  • Helping with dental procedures
  • Creating tooth molds and dental impressions
  • Going over patient care
  • Preparing patients for surgery
  • Utilizing dental instruments and equipment
  • Cleaning and sterilizing instruments
  • Preparing exam and procedure rooms
  • Handling customer service needs

Which Dental Assistants Make the Most Money?

Dental assisting pay varies based on skill, experience, and certification level. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2021, the top-paying dental assistants work in the following areas:

Employer IndustryAverage 2021 Salary (Average Mean Wage)
State governments (excluding schools and hospitals) $50,170
Specialty hospitals (excluding psychiatric and substance abuse) $48,210
Home healthcare services $47,930
General medical and surgical hospitals $47,180
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS designation) $45,970

Please note, however, that these choice jobs represent less than one half of one percent of all dental assistant jobs. The majority of dental assistants, by far, work in dentists’ offices.

Average Dental Assistant Annual Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for dental assistants in the U.S. is $42,510 per year, often including 401k and benefits. Acquiring different certifications or passing various Dental Assisting National Board courses may help you earn above this average salary. The dental care and dental hygiene fields offer many career growth opportunities.

What Is the Hourly Wage of a Dental Assistant?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for U.S. dental assistants in 2021 was $20.44 per hour. The Canadian Job Bank lists the wage range for dental assistants (NOC 3411) as between $18 and $32 CAD per hour.

Registered Dental Assistant Salary

According to 2022 data from Salary.com, RDAs in the U.S. make a median annual salary of $40,890 per year.

Certified Dental Assistant Salary

According to the DANB 2020-2021 Survey, those with CDA certification make a median hourly wage of $22.09, or almost $46,000 per year.

Dental Assistant Salary Across States and Provinces

Your pay may vary depending on where you live since salaries vary widely by state. Below, we look at the average wages for dental assistants in a sampling of U.S. states and Canadian provinces according to ZipRecruiter and, in Canada, the Canadian Job Bank. Please note that ZipRecruiter’s figures are significantly lower than those from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For example, ZipRecruiter provides an average U.S. salary of $35,961, as compared to the government figure of $42,510, so please make comparisons accordingly.

Dental Assistant Salary, North Carolina (N.C.)

Dental assistants in North Carolina typically make $26,051 per year or $12.52 per hour. NC is the lowest paying state in the entire United States for dental assistants. The highest paying cities in N.C. are Greensboro, Gastonia, and Greenville.

Dental Assistant Salary, Texas

Texas dental assistants make around $32,632 per year or $15.69 per hour, with a pay range from $18,607 to $42,973.

Dental Assistant Salary, Florida

Florida dental assistant salaries rank 43 out of all U.S. states. The average FL dental assistant makes $29,126 per year or $14 per hour.

Dental Assistant Salary, California

California dental assistant salaries are, on average, $35,835 per year or $17.23 per hour.

Dental Assistant Salary, Arizona (AZ)

Arizona dental assistants make an average salary of $32,034 per year or $15.40 per hour.

Dental Assistant Salary, Louisiana

Dental assistants in Louisiana make an average of $30,619 per year or $14.72 per hour. Salaries in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Metairie all exceed the state’s average.

Dental Assistant Salary, Colorado

Dental assistants typically make around $30,455 each year or $14.64 per hour in Colorado. The highest reported salaries are in Lakewood, Louisville, and Centennial.

Dental Assistant Salary, Missouri

Missouri’s average dental assistant pay is $27,985 per year or $13.45 per hour.  By working in Columbia, Kansas City, or St. Charles, you may make around 22% to 30% higher than the state’s average.

Dental Assistant Salary, Georgia

Georgia dental assistants make an average of $30,904 per year or $14.86 per hour. Cities like Atlanta, Savannah, and Johns Creek all pay higher.

Dental Assistant Salary, Washington

The highest paying state for dental assistants in the United States is Washington. Topping the U.S. salary charts, Washington dental assistants make an average of $40,032 per year or $19.25 per hour.

Dental Assistant Salary in British Columbia, Canada (B.C.)

Dental assisting in British Columbia usually pays between $18-32 CAD per hour per year, depending on your experience level.

Dental Assistant Salary in Alberta, Canada

According to the Canadian Job Bank, dental assistants in Alberta make an average wage between $21-35 CAD per hour.

Dental Assistant Salary in Ontario, Canada

Dental assistants in Ontario, Canada, are able to make between $18-28 CAD per hour, with a median salary of $23, according to the Canadian Job Bank. The most lucrative geographic areas are the Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula Region and the Toronto Region.

Conclusion

If you’re considering a dental assistant career, hopefully, this article has helped clarify how much you might make and where you could work to maximize your earnings.

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How much does a certified dental assistant make in Louisiana?

The average Dental Assistant salary in Louisiana is $33,560 ( $16.14 per hour) as of 2021, but the range typically falls between $28,890 and $37,520.

How much does a dental assistant make a week in Louisiana?

As of Sep 6, 2022, the average annual pay for a Full Time Dental Assistant in Louisiana is $30,234 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $14.54 an hour. This is the equivalent of $581/week or $2,519/month.

How much does a dental assistant make an hour?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a dental assistant was $36,940 in 2016. This salary breaks down to $21.11 per hour based on working 50 weeks a year, at 35 hours per week.

How much does a surgical dental assistant make in Louisiana?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $44,073 and as low as $18,331, the majority of Oral Surgery Assistant salaries currently range between $27,301 (25th percentile) to $35,882 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $41,732 annually in Louisiana.