Dental Assistants
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Dental Assistants prepare patients for dental examination and assist Dental Practitioners, Hygienists and Therapists in providing care and treatment.
Also known as: Dental Chairside Assistant, or Dental Nurse.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Dental Assistant. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in dental assisting.
Tasks
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receiving and preparing patients
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arranging and handing instruments, medication, and other dental requisites to Dental Practitioners
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preparing dental materials and processing X-rays
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using suction devices and water sprays
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performing routine maintenance on equipment
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sterilising and preventing cross infection of equipment
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may advise patients on dental health education and post-operative care and procedures
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may act as receptionist for Dental Practitioners
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may perform billing and other clerical tasks
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow moderately
- is likely to reach 38,100 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 21,500 |
2012 | 21,000 |
2013 | 24,700 |
2014 | 20,600 |
2015 | 17,200 |
2016 | 26,900 |
2017 | 27,100 |
2018 | 26,700 |
2019 | 27,200 |
2020 | 20,400 |
2021 | 35,800 |
2026 | 38,100 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 46% of people employed as Dental Assistants work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 20 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,102 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $914
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,162
Median hourly earnings are $29, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Dental Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,102 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Dental Assistants work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Dental Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 30.7 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 22.5 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 41% of Dental Assistants live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Dental Assistants is 31 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 98% of the workforce. This is 50 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Dental Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 6.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 20.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 32.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 18.3 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 14.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.9 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 31 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Dental Assistant. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in dental assisting.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Health Industry VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Dental Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 11.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 12.5 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 42.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 20.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 6.9 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Dental Assistants who are hardworking and communicate well with others.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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46%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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46%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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45%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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43%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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41%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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41%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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39%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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39%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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39%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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39%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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39%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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37%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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32%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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30%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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66%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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61%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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59%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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48%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
47%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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39%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
37%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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37%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
36%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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36%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
33%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
32%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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32%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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31%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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30%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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30%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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29%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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24%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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23%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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22%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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48%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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48%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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46%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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45%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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43%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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39%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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39%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
39%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
74%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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72%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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70%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
70%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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68%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
-
67%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
65%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
62%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
58%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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57%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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56%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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56%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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56%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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56%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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54%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
54%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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53%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
49%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
-
47%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
46%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
67%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
48%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
38%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
86%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
81%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
60%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
52%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
48%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
43%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
-
100%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
99%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
98%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
97%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
-
95%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
94%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
90%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
88%
RadiationBe exposed to radiation.
-
87%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
85%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
85%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
82%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
81%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
80%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
79%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
78%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
77%
Bending or twisting your bodySpend time bending or twisting your body.
-
76%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
74%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 31-9091.00 - Dental Assistants.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.