Each year, approximately 0.2% of Missouri graduates receive certificates in dental assisting. Thus, Missouri's 15 dental assistant schools put out approximately 410 dental assistants each year.

Top Schools

The top-ranked school in Missouri that has a dental assistant program is Nichols Career Center. Nichols Career Center, which was ranked 53rd in the country in 2010, is located in Jefferson City. 13 students graduated with a certificate in dental assistant from Nichols Career Center in 2010.

Midwest Institute, which was ranked 61st nationwide in 2010, is the second-ranked school in Missouri that has a dental assistant program. It is located in Saint Louis. In 2010, 17 students graduated from Midwest Institute dental assistant program.

Franklin Technology-MSSU, which is located in Joplin, is the third-ranked school in Missouri that has a dental assistant program. It received a ranking of 68th in the country in 2010. In 2010, Franklin Technology-MSSU graduated 4 students from its dental assistant programs. Tuition at Franklin Technology-MSSU was $0 per year.

Cost

If you choose to attend a Missouri dental assistant school, average tuition will be $4,598 per year. However, tuition at your particular institution may range from $2,352 per year to $15,455 per year. In 2010, the following Missouri dental assistant schools had the highest tuition rates:

1. Missouri College - located in Saint Louis, students are charged $15,455 per year
2. Everest College-Springfield Campus - located in Springfield, students are charged $12,708 per year
3. Vatterott College - located in Saint Louis, students are charged $11,829 per year

The dental assistant schools in Missouri that charged the lowest tuition rates were:

1. Ozarks Technical Community College - located in Springfield, students are charged $2,352 per year
2. Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley - located in Kansas City, students are charged $2,460 per year
3. Saint Louis Community College-Forest Park - located in Saint Louis, students are charged $2,490 per year

A dental assistant certificate from a Missouri school... what next?

The highest percentage of dental assistant graduates in Missouri pursue careers as a dental assistant. Missouri had 5,110 dental assistants in 2010. The largest populations of Missouri dental assistants are working in the following counties:

1. Bond County - 2,540 dental assistants
2. Franklin County - 1,960 dental assistants
3. Christian County - 500 dental assistants

Projected Growth

The government projects that the number of dental assistants in Missouri will grow by 21%. By 2018, there will be an estimated 6,060 dental assistants working in Missouri.

Salary

A dental assistant in Missouri makes an average of $33,490 per year. In 2010, however, some Missouri dental assistants earned as little as less than $18,520 per year or as much as more than $46,100 per year. The following counties in Missouri have the highest average salaries for dental assistants:

1. Bond County - $35,730 per year
2. Franklin County - $34,770 per year
3. Callaway County - $34,390 per year

The Missouri counties with the lowest average salary for dental assistants are:

1. Barry County - $25,710 per year
2. Adair County - $28,140 per year
3. Jasper County - $28,720 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Missouri statistics regarding a career in dental assisting and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as dental assisting or dental hygiene.