ANZSCO 4232

Dental Assistants

Overview

EMPLOYED

26,300

PART-TIME SHARE

49%

FEMALE SHARE

98%

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS

$1,139

MEDIAN AGE

29

ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

-1,700

About this data

Summary

Dental Assistants prepare patients for dental examination and assist Dental Practitioners, Hygienists and Therapists in providing care and treatment.

Tasks

  • Receiving and preparing patients
  • Arranging and handing instruments, medication, and other dental requisites to Dental Practitioners
  • Preparing dental materials and processing X-rays
  • Using suction devices and water sprays
  • Performing routine maintenance on equipment
  • Sterilising and preventing cross infection of equipment
  • May advise patients on dental health education and post-operative care and procedures
  • May act as receptionist for Dental Practitioners
  • May perform billing and other clerical tasks

ANZSCO Classification

Details

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    Earnings and Hours

    Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
    Source: Share of workers who work full-time hours: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Average full-time hours worked per week: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Median full-time earnings per week and Median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023, customised report.
    Note: median earnings data have not been produced for some occupations where there is a high standard error, and are published with "N/A" values.
    Earnings and Hours Dental Assistants All Occupations
    Share of workers who work full-time hours 51% 70%
    Average full-time hours worked per week 39 hours 44 hours
    Median full-time earnings per week $1,139 $1,697
    Median hourly earnings $30 $43

    Industries

    Dental Assistants work in industries like:

    Source: Ranked using ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average data, custom report.
    Note: industries that comprise less than 5% of an occupation have been suppressed.

    States and territories

    New South Wales

    31.1%

    Victoria

    26.8%

    Queensland

    20.5%

    South Australia

    7.3%

    Tasmania

    2.4%

    Northern Territory

    0.9%

    Australian Capital Territory

    2.3%

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, Detailed, August 2024, Jobs and Skills Australia trend data.

    Age and gender

    Age and Gender Profile
    Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, 2023, four-quarter average, customised report.
    Age and Gender Dental Assistants All Occupations
    Median age 29 years 39 years
    Female share of employment 98% 48%
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Age Profile (% Share) All Occupations Dental Assistants
    15–19 5.2 6.9
    20–24 9.1 21.0
    25–34 22.7 31.0
    35–44 22.3 19.0
    45–54 20.4 13.2
    55–59 8.8 4.7
    60–64 6.5 3.0
    65 and Over 4.9 1.2

    Education

    Visit

    • Your Career to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
    Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
    Highest Level of Educational Attainment (% Share) All Occupations Dental Assistants
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 12.2 3.1
    Bachelor degree 23.2 12.5
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma 11.1 10.4
    Certificate III/IV 19.5 38.4
    Year 12 15.9 18.9
    Year 11 4.0 2.9
    Year 10 and below 9.7 4.3
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      Occupation profiles data

      This file contains data displayed on the Occupation Profile pages.

      Use of data in this file must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      Occupation profiles data - November 2024.xlsx

      occupation_profiles_data_-_november_2024.xlsx946664

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      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

      Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the skill-based classification system used to categorise occupations in the Australian and New Zealand labour markets. ANZSCO provides a basis for the standardised collection, analysis and dissemination of occupation data. Visit the ABS website to learn how ANZSCO works. Jobs and Skills Australia displays data for occupations that are defined by ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.3.