Indianapolis Dental Assistant Salary
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies Indianapolis as part of the greater metropolitan Indianapolis area. The average salary there for dental assistants was $17.99 per hour as of May 2009, or $37,410 for those who worked full time. In comparison, the average pay rate for dental assistants statewide in Indiana was $16.48 per hour, or $34,270 per year, and nationwide it was $16.35 per hour, or $34,000 per year.
- Dental assistants in the middle 50 percent of the earnings range in Indianapolis were making $15.32 to $20.15 per hour, compared with those statewide in Indiana making $13.75 to $19.06. In Indianapolis, the bottom 10 percent of dental assistants had an hourly wage of $13.31 and below, while the top 10 percent were making $23.52 per hour and higher.
- Taking and developing X-rays is a common duty for dental assistants. Indiana requires state licensing in limited radiology for dental assistants to do this work, which involves completing a certain level of training and passing an exam. Some Indiana dentists advertise for an assistant who can perform the expanded functions of coronal polishing and administering fluoride treatments. For Indiana dental assistants to legally perform these duties, they first must complete coursework approved by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry.
- Some Indianapolis dentists prefer or require their assistants to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, as indicated by job listings at the Simply Hired website in March 2011. Other qualifications dentists may require include strong interpersonal and communication skills and being able to work with a wide range of patients, including those with physical or mental disabilities. Most of the job listings do not provide salary information, although one employer specifies an hourly rate of $12 to $15, depending on experience.
