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The differences between certified dental assistants and expanded function dental assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a certified dental assistant and an expanded function dental assistant. Additionally, an expanded function dental assistant has an average salary of $38,666, which is higher than the $38,418 average annual salary of a certified dental assistant.
The top three skills for a certified dental assistant include patients, dental procedures and CPR. The most important skills for an expanded function dental assistant are patients, patient care, and vital signs.
| Certified Dental Assistant | Expanded Function Dental Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,418 | $38,666 |
| Hourly rate | $18.47 | $18.59 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 102,316 | 69,681 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Certified dental assistants and expanded function dental assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Dental Assistant | Expanded Function Dental Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,418 | $38,666 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $51,000 | Between $28,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a certified dental assistant and an expanded function dental assistant in terms of educational background:
| Certified Dental Assistant | Expanded Function Dental Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between certified dental assistants' and expanded function dental assistants' demographics:
| Certified Dental Assistant | Expanded Function Dental Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.7% Female, 93.3% | Male, 8.8% Female, 91.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 7.8% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |