Portland Dental Assistant Jobs Overview
Dental offices would stop functioning without dental assistant jobs. Busy dentists aren't able to be with patients at all times and are usually focused on performing technical or complex dental treatments. Dental assistants are needed to make patients comfortable and assist dentists during dental procedures. You can usually become a dental assistant with a high school diploma and just a couple years of extra education or training.
You may want to consider a job as a dental assistant if you enjoy bringing a smile to the faces of both coworkers and patients and working in a calm environment with high hygiene standards. You'll be reviewing and updating patients' health histories, recording patient concerns, preparing the exam room for appointments, disinfecting and sterilizing instruments, cleaning treatment rooms, and giving patients instructions for oral care after surgery. These skills are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, dental assistant jobs are projected to increase by 7% over the next decade.
You can expand your search for healthcare support jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Portland, Oregon
Once revered as a unique river shipping port, Portland is now one of the biggest cultural hubs in the United States. Its walkable downtown area is rich with food trucks, farmer's markets, boutiques, live music, arts, and museums. You can take a stroll in the Portland Japanese Garden or get a Voodoo Doll doughnut at Voodoo Doughnut. Outside the city, you can hike in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area or Mount Hood National Forest. It should be no surprise, then, that Portland is ranked one of the best places to live in the U.S., with job seekers from across the country looking for Portland jobs.
Ready to do your part to keep Portland weird? There are many benefits to living and working in Portland. Among them is the city's healthy job market index, with low unemployment and a higher-than-average median annual salary. You can also expand your job search to nearby cities such as Gresham, Hillsboro, and Beaverton.
Update Your Portland Dental Assistant Resume
Every job application will ask for a resume. But don't worry! Writing a dental assistant resume doesn't have to be as painful as a root canal. Monster has the information you need to impress your local dental office in our sample dental assistant resume. And while you're here, why not add a dental assistant cover letter? Cover letters are an effective tool for personalizing your intent and showing hiring managers how your skills will benefit them.
How Much Do Dental Assistant Jobs Pay in Portland, Oregon?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in dental assistant jobs in Portland, Oregon, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median dental assistant pay in Portland is $21.63 per hour, which is 18% higher than the national average.
Find Your Next Portland Dental Assistant Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in dental assistant? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those dental assistant jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Portland, how to nail your job interview, and more.