How to hire a dental assistant/receptionist

How to hire a dental assistant/receptionist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dental assistant/receptionist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dental assistant/receptionist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dental assistant/receptionist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a dental assistant/receptionist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a dental assistant/receptionist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A dental assistant/receptionist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dental assistant/receptionists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of dental assistant/receptionist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Dental Assistant/Receptionist	Description	Hourly rate
   Dental Assistant/Receptionist	Dental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work.	$12-27
   Dental Technician	Dental Technicians manufacture dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures in accordance with the dentist's specifications. They are also responsible for replacing, repairing, or modifying full or partial dentures.	$19-55
   Receptionist	Receptionists are employees assigned at the entrances or lobbies of offices. They welcome guests, check identification, issue visitor badges, attend to questions or inquiries, and direct guests to where they are supposed to go... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Dental Procedures
   • Appointment Scheduling
   • Strong Computer
   • Dental Care
   • Front Desk
   • Financial Arrangements
   • Chair Side
   • Patient Care
   • Infection Control
   • Insurance Claims
   • Office Appointments
   • Patient Appointments

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Coordinate continuing education courses, schedule in office training sessions and manage first aid, CPR and a certifications.
   • Contact pharmacist to authorize medication for patients prior to dental procedures.
   • Store records securely and handle in compliance with legal requirements, including the HIPAA privacy and security regulations.
   • Assist in a variety of dental procedures including all types of fillings, root canals, extractions, crowns and dentures.
   • Chart, examination/treatment information, scheduled/cancel appointments using CDA.
   • Provide state-of-the-art individualize orthodontic treatment to adult and adolescent patients.

   More dental assistant/receptionist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your dental assistant/receptionist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A dental assistant/receptionist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a dental assistant/receptionist in Utah may be lower than in Minnesota, and an entry-level dental assistant/receptionist usually earns less than a senior-level dental assistant/receptionist. Additionally, a dental assistant/receptionist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average dental assistant/receptionist salary

   $38,823yearly

   $18.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dental assistant/receptionist salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 3, 2026

   Average dental assistant/receptionist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$48,646	$23
   2	Maryland	$45,805	$22
   3	Alaska	$45,398	$22
   4	Pennsylvania	$45,235	$22
   5	New York	$45,155	$22
   6	New Hampshire	$43,681	$21
   7	Indiana	$41,646	$20
   8	California	$40,712	$20
   9	Washington	$40,578	$20
   10	Illinois	$39,434	$19
   11	Colorado	$38,254	$18
   12	Ohio	$37,700	$18
   13	Arizona	$36,886	$18
   14	Wisconsin	$36,512	$18
   15	Georgia	$36,394	$18
   16	Florida	$36,148	$17
   17	Texas	$35,737	$17
   18	Tennessee	$35,719	$17
   19	Kentucky	$35,272	$17
   20	Louisiana	$31,720	$15

   Average dental assistant/receptionist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mount Sinai Health System	$58,219	$27.99	85
   2	Bonita	$53,996	$25.96
   3	Cordata Healthcare Innovations	$44,838	$21.56
   4	The Institute for Family Health	$42,976	$20.66	9
   5	Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine	$42,157	$20.27
   6	Concorde Career Colleges	$41,789	$20.09	13
   7	Chinatown Service Center	$40,889	$19.66	13
   8	TRU Community Care	$38,691	$18.60	8
   9	HealthSource of Ohio	$38,568	$18.54	24
   10	Dental Arts Laboratories	$37,828	$18.19	1
   11	PDA	$37,715	$18.13
   12	American Dental Association	$37,704	$18.13	63
   13	Kyber Network	$37,592	$18.07	5
   14	Dependable Dental Staffing	$37,477	$18.02
   15	El Centro Family Health	$37,419	$17.99	18
   16	University of Pennsylvania	$36,605	$17.60	5
   17	MicroDental Laboratories	$36,360	$17.48
   18	Robert Half	$36,305	$17.45	88
   19	Metro Dentalcare	$36,224	$17.42	5
   20	town-center	$35,779	$17.20

4. Writing a dental assistant/receptionist job description

   A dental assistant/receptionist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a dental assistant/receptionist job description:

   Dental assistant/receptionist job description example

   : The Dental Office Patient Reception is responsible for front office support for the LECOM School of Dental Medicine Dental Practices including, but not limited to, Scheduling, Patient Relations, and Collections.
   
   CHARACTERISTIC JOB TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES :
   Must check-in & check-out patients, answer telephone and verify personal information for billing purposes; Must be able to assist in showing students front office business operations; Attend meetings approved by SDM that require advancement of your profession; Must be responsible and accountable to supervise and manage a 10 -20 chair patient practice area; Must work in conjunction with the faculty & students to maintain patient flow; Must be able to take direction and receive assignments to help the dental students on a daily basis; Must be available for work during the hours assigned, for student instruction and practice development; Responsible for reporting EOD (End of Day) and balancing reports for the Director of Finance; Protect money, checks, credit cards and collect insurance information; Coordinate Dental materials Inventory with the Dispensary; Contribute directly to the Mission of LECOM embodying the essence of Osteopathic Principles and Practices by assisting with Institutional fundraising and participating in the LECOM Scholarship Auction; Accept other duties needed/assigned for the practice needs. EEO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
   
   Minimum Requirements
   
   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS :
   
   Must possess required knowledge and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
   Computer experience in the dental or other related field to allow for AxiUm computer program entry; Knowledge of Patient Relations, Scheduling and Bookkeeping; Compliance with State and Federal Regulations and Safety Protocols, at the practice level; Knowledge of patient's privacy (HIPAA) and student privacy (FERPA); Follow proper OSHA and safety guidelines; Protect equipment (office, dental, facility); Strong communications skills are essential as well as computer literacy (MS Office Suit [i.e. Word, PowerPoint and Excel...etc.]) and accurate data entry skills; Excellence organizational skills must be accurate and attentive to detail; Must be trained and certified on the Institutional Data System, Jenzabar; Maintaining an established work schedule; Effectively using interpersonal and communications skills including tact and diplomacy; Effectively using organizational and planning skills, including attention to detail and follow-through; Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands; Maintaining confidentiality of work related information and materials; Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships; The ability to work cooperatively and collegially with others, consistent with a workplace of dignity and respect and EEO rules and regulations; The ability to report to work as scheduled, ready to devote full attention and energy to the important work of LECOM; The ability to accept work directives from managers and supervisors in a respectful and cooperative manner; and Be able to be flexible to accept other duties needed/assigned for the practice needs.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   Education and experience equivalent to: High school diploma or GED required. Bilingual applicant preferred. AS or BS degree with work experience of 2-5 years' in a similar job responsibility preferred. Computer and online interactive knowledge a must.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find dental assistant/receptionists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dental assistant/receptionist job on Zippia to find and recruit dental assistant/receptionist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with dental assistant/receptionist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dental assistant/receptionist

   Once you've found the dental assistant/receptionist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new dental assistant/receptionist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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