How Much Do Dental Assistants Make in New York State?
New York is mostly famous for the largest city in the U.S. But residents in the city and throughout the fourth most populous state need good dental care. This is why New York is seeing increasing demand for good dental assistants.
The growth in dental assistant jobs across the U.S. is near 20 percent, much higher than average job growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In New York, the growth is even stronger at almost 23 percent and with more than 3,000 open positions available each year for qualified candidates.
This means that if you’re thinking about becoming a dental assistant in New York, now is an excellent time to do so.
Of course, like any other profession, there are always going to be some drawbacks. For instance, working as a dental assistant can be quite physically demanding and sometimes even dangerous. You’ll need to be able to handle sharp tools and instruments and be comfortable working in close proximity to someone’s mouth.
You should also be prepared for the long hours. Dental offices are usually open from early morning until late at night, and you may find yourself working some weekends as well.
However, if you’re up for the challenge, then a career as a dental assistant can be very rewarding. You’ll get to help people improve their smile and their overall oral health, and you’ll be able to take pride in knowing that you played a role in that.
If you think you have what it takes to become a dental assistant in New York, then the first step is to find an accredited dental assisting program. Once you complete your training, you’ll be eligible to take the state licensing exam and begin your new career.
The average annual salary for a dental assistant in New York is not far off the national average, less than $1,000 lower. There is a potential to earn more than the average with experience and different employers. Some dental assistants in New York make more than $56,000 annually.
| 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 York | 2016 | 21,750 | 2026 | 26,700 | 4,950 | 22.8% | 3,120 |
| 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 York | 19,520 | $19.56 | $40,680 | $27,610 | $32,380 | $39,510 | $48,280 | $56,580 |
By metro area, New York City–Newark–Jersey City by far has the most dental assistants with more than 20,000. This region also has some of the highest salaries in the state, but the top average is $$43,170 in Kingston, New York.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 720 | $20.65 | $42,950 | $33,770 | $38,450 | $43,860 | $48,400 | $51,670 |
| Binghamton, NY | 240 | $16.59 | $34,510 | $26,090 | $28,780 | $34,350 | $40,020 | $44,960 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 990 | $18.20 | $37,860 | $27,620 | $32,090 | $37,450 | $44,130 | $49,590 |
| Elmira, NY | 40 | $19.60 | $40,770 | $33,500 | $35,910 | $39,710 | $45,410 | $53,170 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 100 | $18.05 | $37,540 | $29,710 | $33,150 | $37,000 | $41,070 | $46,990 |
| Ithaca, NY | 80 | $19.20 | $39,940 | $28,850 | $34,180 | $38,680 | $44,690 | $55,900 |
| Kingston, NY | 140 | $20.75 | $43,170 | $31,540 | $35,560 | $41,930 | $51,460 | $58,040 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 21780 | $20.47 | $42,580 | $28,050 | $33,180 | $41,350 | $51,020 | $60,520 |
| Rochester, NY | 1180 | $19.05 | $39,630 | $23,120 | $32,590 | $38,230 | $48,110 | $56,490 |
| Syracuse, NY | 740 | $17.36 | $36,100 | $28,990 | $32,830 | $36,180 | $39,710 | $44,120 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 220 | $19.37 | $40,300 | $27,750 | $32,050 | $38,810 | $48,800 | $56,940 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | 120 | $17.77 | $36,960 | $29,780 | $32,680 | $36,740 | $40,920 | $47,250 |
New York dental assistant salaries stand up well to those of similar careers in the state, coming in second only to physical therapist assistants. Dental assistants earn more than medical assistants, nursing assistants and pharmacy technicians.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 20360 | $17.21 | $35,790 | $24,860 | $27,760 | $33,550 | $41,930 | $50,530 |
| Nursing Assistants | 85090 | $18.66 | $38,810 | $26,980 | $31,370 | $38,580 | $46,000 | $51,030 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 5410 | $26.43 | $54,970 | $29,930 | $43,010 | $55,980 | $66,800 | $78,040 |
| Dental Assistants | 19520 | $19.56 | $40,680 | $27,610 | $32,380 | $39,510 | $48,280 | $56,580 |
| Medical Assistants | 27730 | $18.56 | $38,590 | $28,530 | $32,790 | $37,450 | $44,010 | $50,930 |
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