See table for salaries.
Average Dental Assistant Salary in Canada
The table below details the hourly wages for Dental Assistants.
The Canadian national occupation classification code (NOC) for this role is 3411.
Job titles and exact duties vary in this occupation and examples of some job titles are: certified dental assistant and registered dental assistant.
A typical full-time annual salary for this occupation is in the region of $38,000 – $52,000.
According to the latest figures, the highest hourly average (median) wages are earned in Edmonton, Alberta at $30.00 per hour and the lowest average (median) wages are earned in Prince Edward Island at $19.10 per hour.
Employment prospects for dental assistants have weakened in Canada in the last few years. The government forecasts that this occupation will have a labour surplus.
Average (Median) Hourly Wages for Dental Assistants in Canada
| Location | Low Wage $ per hr |
Average Wage $ per hr |
High Wage $ per hr |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg – Manitoba | 17.00 | 21.35 | 28.21 | 2018 |
| Fredericton – New Brunswick | 15.00 | 21.00 | 26.00 | 2018 |
| Halifax – Nova Scotia | 19.28 | 21.00 | 25.00 | 2018 |
| Ottawa – Ontario | 17.00 | 22.50 | 31.00 | 2018 |
| Toronto Region – Ontario | 14.00 | 21.43 | 30.00 | 2018 |
| Kitchener / Waterloo / Barrie – Ontario | 18.75 | 22.54 | 27.47 | 2018 |
| Windsor / Sarnia Region – Ontario | 15.00 | 20.95 | 30.00 | 2018 |
| Montreal – Quebec | 15.00 | 20.00 | 26.40 | 2018 |
| Saskatoon / Biggar Region – Saskatchewan | 21.00 | 27.00 | 35.00 | 2018 |
| Prince Edward Island | 16.00 | 19.10 | 26.80 | 2018 |
| Calgary – Alberta* | 25.33 | 28.13 | 33.00 | 2019 |
| Edmonton – Alberta* | 19.50 | 30.00 | 36.20 | 2019 |
| Vancouver / Lower Mainland – British Columbia | 20.00 | 26.00 | 30.00 | 2018 |
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The 2020 full-time average hourly wage rate for assisting occupations in health, which includes dental assistants, is $21.39. The 2020 corresponding median weekly wage rate is $780, giving an approximate full-time annual salary for this employment group of $40,500.
Licensing is not mandatory, but is required to perform intra-oral duties in all provinces except Quebec.
There are over 30,000 dental assistants working in Canada.
Dental Hygienists/Therapists
Dental Technologists
Dentists
Nurse Aides/Orderlies