Dental Assistant Salaries in New Jersey
New Jersey’s dental industry is growing steadily, which means there is ongoing demand for qualified and trained dental assistants. Dentists need these key workers to help care for patients, manage records and ensure safety in the office.
This is a great career for job stability in New Jersey with growth expected to exceed 12 percent per year through 2026 at least. Projections estimate that there will be about 1,400 positions open for licensed dental assistants each year going forward.
There are a few things you need to do in order to become a licensed dental assistant in New Jersey.
First, you must complete an accredited dental assisting program. You can find a list of accredited programs on the website of the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Next, you must pass the DANB dental assistant’s exam.
Finally, you must pass a state-specific jurisprudence exam. This exam tests your knowledge of dental assisting laws and regulations in New Jersey. You can register for the exam on the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry website.
The average salaries for dental assistants in New Jersey match the higher cost of living in the state. Average annual salaries exceed the national average by more than $3,000, and the highest earners make $61,680 and higher.
| AreaName | Base Year | Employed | Projection Year | Projected Employment | Change | % Change | Projected Average Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2018 | 346,000 | 2026 | 384,700 | 38,700 | 19.5% | 44,800 |
| New Jersey | 2016 | 10,960 | 2026 | 12,330 | 1,370 | 12.5% | 1,400 |
| State | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 351,470 | $19.79 | $41,170 | $27,980 | $33,440 | $40,080 | $48,550 | $56,930 |
| New Jersey | 10,300 | $21.33 | $44,370 | $29,640 | $35,330 | $43,060 | $53,520 | $61,860 |
The New York City–Newark–Jersey City metropolitan area has more than 21,000 employed dental assistants. The area of lowest employment in the state is in and around Vineland and Bridgeton. This area also has the highest average salary in the state by more than $8,000.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 810 | $20.30 | $42,220 | $30,210 | $35,120 | $40,710 | $49,100 | $58,980 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 240 | $20.20 | $42,010 | $32,280 | $35,840 | $42,530 | $48,500 | $52,630 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 21780 | $20.47 | $42,580 | $28,050 | $33,180 | $41,350 | $51,020 | $60,520 |
| Ocean City, NJ | ** | $22.88 | $47,590 | $33,980 | $38,920 | $49,410 | $54,840 | $60,590 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6030 | $20.32 | $42,260 | $27,870 | $34,500 | $41,850 | $50,660 | $59,750 |
| Trenton, NJ | 640 | $19.66 | $40,880 | $24,610 | $31,610 | $38,470 | $47,910 | $61,670 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 180 | $23.42 | $48,710 | $35,820 | $42,270 | $49,680 | $57,480 | $62,470 |
Among similar healthcare assisting careers, dental assistant salaries compare favorably in New Jersey. Physical therapist assistants make more, but dental assistants out-earn medical assistants, nursing assistants and pharmacy technicians. They make over $10,000 more per year than the lowest-paying job on this list.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 9810 | $16.61 | $34,550 | $22,510 | $26,010 | $31,730 | $41,810 | $49,860 |
| Nursing Assistants | 53980 | $15.00 | $31,190 | $23,220 | $26,740 | $30,300 | $35,180 | $40,210 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1420 | $33.40 | $69,480 | $54,530 | $60,620 | $71,140 | $79,910 | $86,080 |
| Dental Assistants | 10300 | $21.33 | $44,370 | $29,640 | $35,330 | $43,060 | $53,520 | $61,860 |
| Medical Assistants | 19120 | $17.95 | $37,330 | $27,620 | $31,970 | $36,690 | $42,220 | $49,390 |