Dental Assistant: Dental Science

Median Annual Income

$77,960

Projected Job Growth

+13 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Associate's degree

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

Median Annual Income

$86,070

Projected Job Growth

+6 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

Median Annual Income

$86,070

Projected Job Growth

+6 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Bachelor's degree

Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock. May care for pre- and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Median Annual Income

$60,610

Projected Job Growth

+6 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

Median Annual Income

$43,740

Projected Job Growth

+19 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Associate's degree

Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines. May assist a veterinarian during surgery.

Median Annual Income

$41,780

Projected Job Growth

+14 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Assist ophthalmologists by performing ophthalmic clinical functions. May administer eye exams, administer eye medications, and instruct the patient in care and use of corrective lenses.

Median Annual Income

$59,730

Projected Job Growth

+3 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Median Annual Income

$59,160

Projected Job Growth

+7 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.

Median Annual Income

$46,540

Projected Job Growth

+8 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.

Median Annual Income

$42,000

Projected Job Growth

+15 %

Career Cluster(s)

Healthcare & Human Services

Most Common Education Level

Postsecondary certificate

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.