Dental assistants are trained clinical professionals who prepare patients and treatment rooms, assist the dentist chairside, take and process radiographs, perform intra-oral duties where certified, and manage sterilization and infection control. It is a stable, credentialed clinical-support role, and this guide sets out what it pays.
The official wage band
Job Bank classifies dental assistants under NOC 33100, Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants. These are the official hourly wages in Canada, low to high, updated November 19, 2025.
| Level | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Low | $21.00 |
| Median | $27.00 |
| High | $35.00 |
Reading the band
This is a steady, credentialed clinical-support role, so the band is reasonably tight. New graduates and reception-adjacent roles sit near the floor. Certified assistants with intra-oral or Level II duties, specialty experience, and years in practice sit toward the top.
What lifts your pay
- NDAEB certification and, where required, provincial registration
- Intra-oral or Level II certification, for expanded chairside clinical duties
- Specialty experience in orthodontics, pediatrics, or oral surgery
- Years in practice and a lead or senior chairside role
Reading the ranges
These bands cover NOC 33100, the dental assistant occupation, which is distinct from the dental hygienist profession (a separate role and classification). New assistants sit near the floor. Certified assistants with intra-oral duties and specialty experience sit toward the ceiling.
Sources: Job Bank Canada wage data (NOC 33100, updated November 19, 2025) and the National Dental Assisting Examination Board (NDAEB).
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