How to become a Dental Assistant in Illinois
In order to become a dental assistant in Illinois (IL) it is recommended that you graduate from an accredited dental assistant program in the state. You will then need to pass additional state-level or national certification exams.
There are over 12,700 dental assistants currently employed in Illinois and the Bureau for Labor Statistics has predicted continued job growth with the number of dental assisting jobs in the USA predicted to grow by 19% between 2016 and 2026.
Find out more about becoming a Dental Assistant in Illinois below.
Top Accredited Dental Assistant Schools in Illinois – 2023
Listed above are the top 5 CODA accredited programs in Illinois for dental assisting.
| School | City | Program URL |
|---|---|---|
| John A. Logan College | Carterville | Program Page |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Program Page |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | Program Page |
| Lewis & Clark Community College | Godfrey | Program Page |
| Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby | Program Page |
For more options you can also view the DANB accepted post secondary programs in Illinois listed below.
- Kishwaukee College, Malta, Program Page
- Midwest Technical Institute, East Peoria, Program Page
- Midwest Technical Institute, Moline, Program Page
- Midwest Technical Institute, Springfield, Program Page
- Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, Program Page
- Rockford Career College, Rockford, Program Page
You can also view results for schools offering Dental Assisting programs in Illinois and surrounding states on the map below.
Illinois Dental Assistant License Requirements
Once you have graduated from an accredited program it is required by Illinois law that you obtain a license to work as a dental assistant there. The Dental Professions Licensed by IDFPR governs the licensing of dental assistants in Illinois. You can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:
Phone: (312) 353-7875
Website: http://www.idfpr.com/profs/dentist.asp
Dental Assistant Salary in Illinois
| State | Illinois |
|---|---|
| Average Salary | $39,030 |
| Hourly Wage | $18.76 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $51,170 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $26,930 |
| #'s Employed | 12,710 |
The average Dental Assistant salary in Illinois is $39,030 – 3.7% above the national average.
This represents an hourly wage of $18.76.
There are currently 12,710 persons employed as dental assistants in the state.
The table below provides a breakdown of salaries and employment of dental assistants across the main towns, cities and non metro areas in Illinois;
| Area | Salary | # Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | $44,000 | 150 |
| Bloomington, IL | $43,350 | 150 |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,500 | 290 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,620 | 90 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL | $40,220 | 7,690 |
| Elgin, IL | $38,340 | 570 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $39,570 | 10,280 |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,020 | - |
| Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI | $39,760 | 1,200 |
| Peoria, IL | $37,990 | 300 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $32,800 | 170 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,720 | 410 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $35,330 | 280 |
| Kankakee, IL | $38,750 | 70 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,900 | 90 |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | $34,570 | 100 |
*Updated May 2018 to allow for the most recent BLS data released in March 2018.
Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in Illinois
The table below provides a comparison between income and employment for dental assistants with related healthcare careers in Illinois;
| Career | Number Employed | Hourly Wage | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | 13,200 | $17.85 | $37,120 |
| Physician Assistants | 2,900 | $42.62 | $88,650 |
| Respiratory Therapists | 4,930 | $26.17 | $54,430 |
| Dental Hygienists | 7,820 | $33.60 | $69,880 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 2,150 | $35.92 | $74,710 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 12,060 | $20.38 | $42,380 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 19,160 | $14.52 | $30,210 |
| Surgical Technologists | 2,750 | $21.57 | $44,870 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 3,640 | $15.84 | $32,940 |
| Home Health Aides | 32,300 | $11.36 | $23,640 |
| Nursing Assistants | 59,550 | $12.54 | $26,080 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 2,100 | $28.65 | $59,590 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 4,540 | $25.52 | $53,090 |
| Massage Therapists | 3,400 | $18.01 | $37,460 |
| Medical Assistants | 18,420 | $15.37 | $31,970 |
| Medical Transcriptionists | 1,580 | $16.99 | $35,340 |
| Phlebotomists | 5,330 | $16.51 | $34,340 |