Clean teeth, take X-rays, screen for oral disease, and teach patients how to care for their mouths.
Dental offices; seated chairside, close, detailed work with protective gear.
Full-time or part-time; flexible schedules are common.
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Associate degree
Training path: Associate degree + license.
Requires graduating from an accredited program and holding a state license.
One of the best associate-degree paychecks in the economy.
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Standard Occupational Classification 29-1292. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.