Salaries and other compensation indicators for certified dental assistants (CDAs) continue to rise, driven by the fact the rate at which CDAs are leaving the profession has increased dramatically over the past four years.
Statistics gathered during CDABC's biannual employment survey indicate that 16 percent of CDAs in BC are currently not employed in the dental field, up significantly from 10 percent in 2006. However, a greater proportion of those non-working CDAs are not looking for work, resulting in a rise in salaries and benefits for CDAs who are still on the job.
"We frequently have more than 90 jobs currently posted on our website, so if a CDA is not working, there are probably personal reasons why that person has chosen not to seek employment," said Andrew Huige, Executive Director of Certified Dental Assistants of BC.