what is the starting wage in los angeles for a new grad?
2006-10-23 09:38:38 · 7 answers · asked by YonniBabe 2 in Health ➔ Dental
I don't live in CA, I live across the country in NJ. I know here if you don't have schooling you are likely to start at minimum wage to maybe $9/hr.
I went to school and came out making $15/hr. It is definatly worth it to go to school for a few reasons.
1) When you start working, you'll have dental knowledge and won't walk in to an office blind and confused.
2) You'll make more money
3) You'll have an x-ray license
The procedures may make no sense to you if you don't have schooling, which will make it more difficult to learn.
From personal experience... if I didn't go to school I would have been totally lost. Not to mention...you need a certain # of hrs. in a dental office (with no schooling) to start working on your x-ray license. If you go to school you will leave with an x-ray license.
Work p/t in an office while going to school. It will help you learn hands on.
2006-10-23 16:34:32 · answer #1 · answered by Ron's wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also live in the LA area and let me just say one thing: Dental Assistants DO NOT make 55k a year. My mother-in-law has 6 months in the field and makes $11 an hour and my sis-n-law has a little over 2 years in the field and makes $14 an hour. They both work in Orange County. I've been browsing www.craigslist.com and have found that most DA's make between $9-$12 an hour (I'm sure this is entry-level) but I've seen as much as $17 an hour for experienced DA's or for RDA's (registered dental assistants). If you're in it for the money, this is NOT the profession for you. However if your hearts really in it and you plan on pursuing other things such as being an RDA, x-ray, hygienist, etc, then it's worth it. I chose medical assisting myself. There are a lot more things you can get into in the medical field. Good luck with your schooling and browse craigslist for more of an idea of what $$$ you can expect. $$$ also has to do with location so keep that in mind.
2006-10-23 10:08:23 · answer #2 · answered by SoCalGal75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use to go out with a dental assistant and she said most dental offices start at 12 bucks an hour topping out around 17 an hour. She eventually went back to school to become a dental hygienist
2016-03-28 05:18:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know what the pay is in L.A. but when i first graduated from dental assisting it paid very little like $8 an hour it wasnt that great. Have fun with it when you get your job but i only lasted 3 months cause i didnt like it!!
2006-10-23 11:11:09 · answer #4 · answered by Tinkerbelle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DENTAL SOCIETY
2006-10-23 10:36:42 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do a zip code search at http://www.careerbuilders.com or http://www.monster.com or http://www.payscale.com
2006-10-23 15:12:39 · answer #6 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
55,000 so go for it.
2006-10-23 09:39:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋