The employment rate for dental assistants is growing more than two times the rate of all occupations in Georgia. In 2012, the Georgia Department of Labor (DOL) found there were an estimated 7,708 dental assistants employed statewide. By 2022, this number is expected to increase to 10,580. This change equates to a 3.2% annual average growth rate, which far exceeds the state average of 1.5% for all occupations.
Average Pay Scales for Dental Assistants in Georgia
Pay scales for dental assistants are generally determined according to earnings within the 25% to 75% percentile range.
Here are the DOL’s average pay scale findings for dental assistants employed in Georgia in 2012:
- 25th Percentile: $27,693/yr. or $13.32/hr.
- Mean Percentile: $35,327/yr. or $16.94/hr.
- 75th Percentile: $42,188/yr. or $20.28/hr.
Featured Programs:
- Online
- Online
Dental assistant salaries can be greatly impacted depending on which industry they find employment in. The DOL’s most recent data linking average salaries and industry for dental assistants in Georgia is as follows:
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing: $48,041/yr.
- Administrative and Support Services: $32,144/yr.
- Ambulatory Health Care Services: $26,116/yr.
County-Specific Average Salaries for Dental Assistants in Georgia
In Georgia, each county features a unique average salary for dental assistants determined by the specific demand for their services in that area. The DOL’s list of ten highest paying counties for dental assistants in 2012 include:
- Walton County: $41,009/yr.
- Paulding County: $40,642/yr.
- Hall County: $39,342/yr.
- Heard County: $38,999/yr.
- Troup County: $38,999/yr.
- Jackson County: $38,670/yr.
- Barrow County: $38,586/yr.
- Rockdale County: $38,412/yr.
- Fulton County: $37,665/yr.
- Meriwether County: $37,627/yr.
To continue exploring how geographic location causes salary and wage variations for dental assistants in Georgia, check out United State Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2013 pay table shown below: