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Boston Career Explorer

Healthcare Support

Dental Assistants

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

Also called: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA)

Compare with my current job (File Clerks)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$58,160
$27.96/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
7,190
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+1.6%
1,210 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Postsecondary nondegree award

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$47,780$48,770$58,160$61,050$72,780

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
  • Record treatment information in patient records.
  • Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
  • Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
  • Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
  • Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure31 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 32
  • Language-model AIOE 37
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 23

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is lower, and observed AI use is little or none. Software may help with record keeping and supply ordering. Preparing patients, assisting during procedures, taking x-rays, and handling emergencies all rely on a person in the room.

Likely to change

  • Recording treatment information in patient records
  • Ordering and tracking dental supplies

Still relies on people

  • Assisting the dentist during procedures
  • Preparing and calming patients in the chair

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Surgical Technologists

    Sterilizing instruments and assisting during procedures carry over directly. This move offers a Boston median pay of $81,500 and a similar training path.

    Pay difference
    +$23,340 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.9%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Paramedics

    Patient care and staying calm in emergencies carry over. Paramedics earn a Boston median of $66,460 and also complete a postsecondary nondegree program.

    Pay difference
    +$8,300 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +2.0%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Medical Equipment Preparers

    Sterilizing instruments, setting up trays, and checking supplies carry over. Expected growth is 8.8%, and the job requires only a high school diploma.

    Pay difference
    +$2,680 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +8.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

4 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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