Dental Assisting/Assistant

CIP 51.0601 Associate Certificate

Program Availability

Schools Offering

504

548 total including inactive

States

Available nationwide

Graduates (2023)

13,070

Total completions

Dental Assisting/Assistant is offered as a associate and certificate program at schools nationwide, making it one of the more widely available trade program. The most popular states are California, Florida and Ohio.

Career & Cost Overview

Median Salary

$47,300

Dental Assistants

Job Growth

+6.4%

10-year projected growth

Median Tuition

$4,378

In-state annual rate

Graduates typically pursue careers as Dental Assistants. In-state tuition ranges from $576 to $29,760, and the work is primarily indoor with moderate physical demands — suited for analytical thinkers who enjoy problem-solving.

Graduate Demographics

Gender Distribution

Male: 1,129 (8.6%)

Female: 11,941 (91.4%)

Degree Level Distribution

Associate: 10,081 (77.1%)

Certificate: 2,989 (22.9%)

Is This Career Right for You?

Interest Profile (Holland Codes)

Social

Conventional

Investigative

helping and working with people; organizing, systematizing, and working with data; research, analysis, and problem-solving

What does this mean? ▼

This career is best suited for people who enjoy:

Helping others
Teaching
Organization
Data management
Conducting research
Solving complex problems

Ideal Candidate Profile

👤 Personality Traits

✓ Empathetic

✓ Patient

✓ Organized

✓ Detail-oriented

✓ Analytical

✓ Curious

💡 Interests

● Helping others

● Teaching

● Organization

● Data management

● Conducting research

● Solving complex problems

⭐ Work Values

♦ Active Listening

♦ Speaking

♦ Instructing

♦ Helping others

♦ Knowledge

♦ Accuracy

❓ Ask Yourself These Questions

Do you enjoy helping and working with people; organizing, systematizing, and working with data; research, analysis, and problem-solving?

Do you value active listening?

Are you willing to develop the technical skills required for this field?

✓ This Career May Be Great For You If:

• Analytical thinkers who enjoy problem-solving
• People-oriented individuals who enjoy helping others
• Detail-oriented individuals who value organization

⚠ Consider These Challenges:

• Those who prefer routine tasks
• Those who prefer working independently
• Those who dislike repetitive tasks

💭

Note: This assessment is based on typical requirements and characteristics for careers in this field. Individual experiences may vary. Consider your own interests, values, and goals when making career decisions.