Launch your dental career with free online training. Louisiana dental assistants earn $41,450+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$41,450/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
2,800+
Population 65+
16.7
Training Cost
FREE
Pelican State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 2,800+ dental practices and a population where 16.7 are over 65.
Louisiana dental assistants earn $41,450 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $44,500 - $51,000.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across Louisiana.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Louisiana requires dental assistants to register with the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Louisiana offers Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA) credentials for additional clinical procedures through approved training.
Louisiana requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Louisiana state exam. Radiography certification must be renewed with continuing education requirements.
Largest market, LSU dental school
State capital, university presence
Northwest Louisiana hub
Acadiana region, oil industry influence
Southwest Louisiana, petrochemical industry
Louisiana offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 300+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 1100 Florida Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119
Louisiana's only dental school with comprehensive clinical programs serving New Orleans.
View Careers →Employees: 400+
Facilities: 20+ locations
Location: Multiple LA locations
National DSO with Louisiana presence offering structured career development.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: New Orleans metro
Louisiana's largest health system with dental services throughout the region.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: North Louisiana, Lake Charles
Catholic health system with dental services across Louisiana.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: 3 dental locations
Location: New Orleans
Community health center serving New Orleans' underserved populations.
View Careers →Employees: 75+
Facilities: 4 locations
Location: Acadiana region
Community health center serving South-central Louisiana.
View Careers →Employees: 50+
Facilities: 2 locations
Location: Lake Charles area
Community health center serving Southwest Louisiana.
View Careers →Employees: 4,200+
Facilities: 2,400+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from New Orleans to Shreveport to rural Louisiana.
View Careers →Michelle B.
New Orleans • LSU Dental
"Working at the dental school means excellent training and diverse patient experiences."
2024-11
James P.
Baton Rouge • Ochsner Health
"Large health system gives stability and great benefits. Multiple career paths available."
2024-10
Brittany R.
Lafayette • Private Practice
"Acadiana community is welcoming. French/Cajun cultural competency is appreciated here."
2024-09
Louisiana dental assistants earn an average of $41,450 annually ($19.93/hour). Entry-level positions start at $33,500-$38,000, while experienced DAs earn $44,500-$51,000. New Orleans metro offers highest wages at $40,000-$47,000. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, Louisiana requires dental assistants to register with the State Board of Dentistry. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. EDDA credentials require additional approved training for expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. Louisiana registration requires proof of training plus radiography certification. The complete process typically takes 2-3 months from enrollment to employment.
Stable outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. Louisiana's 4.6 million population, 2,800 dental practices, and LSU dental school create consistent demand. Energy industry presence in South Louisiana creates professional patient populations.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for Louisiana Board registration fee ($50), radiography certification exam, and any optional certifications when ready. Many Louisiana employers reimburse certification costs.
New Orleans metro leads with $40,000-$47,000 near LSU dental school. Baton Rouge offers $39,000-$45,000 as state capital. Metairie and Jefferson Parish suburbs pay competitive wages serving greater New Orleans populations.
Louisiana offers: (1) LSU dental school creating academic employment, (2) Unique cultural communities requiring cultural competency, (3) Lower cost of living than many states, (4) Community health opportunities in underserved areas, (5) Energy industry creating stable patient populations.
Yes! Rural Louisiana faces dental provider shortages. Community health centers serve underserved populations with potential loan repayment eligibility. Small-town practices offer community integration and patient relationships that urban settings cannot match.
Join thousands of Louisiana residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredLouisiana's dental workforce serves approximately 4.6 million residents through an estimated 2,800 dental practices. New Orleans and Baton Rouge contain the largest concentration of dental employment, with regional centers in Shreveport, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Louisiana employed approximately 6,800 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $41,450. Louisiana's lower cost of living provides reasonable purchasing power despite wages below the national median.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry is Louisiana's only dental school. Founded in 1968, the school trains approximately 65 dentists annually and provides clinical education opportunities for dental assistants in academic settings.
Louisiana's unique cultural landscape—including Cajun, Creole, and diverse immigrant communities—creates opportunities for dental assistants with cultural competency and language skills. New Orleans' multicultural character particularly values bilingual and culturally aware healthcare workers.
Major health systems including Ochsner Health and CHRISTUS Health operate dental services throughout Louisiana. These organizations provide structured employment with benefits and career advancement opportunities beyond traditional private practice settings.
Community health centers including Daughters of Charity in New Orleans and facilities across the state serve underserved populations. These employers offer mission-driven work with potential NHSC loan repayment eligibility for qualifying positions.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.