The Alabama Department of Labor claims that dental assistants can prepare for an excellent occupational outlook in the coming years. In 2010, the state’s workforce included 2,890 dental assistants. By 2020, this number is expected to grow to 3,950.
Since this exceptional employment growth will cause approximately 165 annual job openings in the profession, the Department of Labor has marked dental assistants as one of “Alabama’s Hot 40 Demand Occupations” from 2010 to 2020.
Average Salary and Wage Figures for Dental Assistants in Alabama
According to the Department of Labor, although dental assistants did not require a college degree or occupational license to practice in Alabama, they still enjoy an average annual salary $29,550 or an average hourly wage of $14.21.
More experienced dental assistants tend to gain higher favor with employers. Therefore, workers with advanced field experience often receive a greater average salary of $33,530/yr. or average wage $16.12/hr.
Dental assistants that lack experience are less attractive to employers, so they rarely earn an above average pay. In fact, less experienced workers in entry-level positions often earn a reduced average salary of $21,590/yr. or $10.38/hr.
In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics extensively documented dental assistant salary and wage percentiles in Alabama. Their conclusive findings revealed a broad spectrum of earnings, including:
- 25th Percentile: $25,300/yr. or $12.14/hr.
- Medical Percentile: $30,300/yr. or $14.58/hr.
- 75th Percentile: $36,000/yr. or $17.29/hr.
- 90th Percentile: $41,300/yr. or $19.84/hr.
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To identify dental assistant salaries and wages across regions in Alabama, please refer to the table below. Table contents were collected and analyzed by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2013: