Dental Assistants
Machines can already do 18% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 47%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Dental Assistants in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 18% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2036, and 47% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 387,790 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $48,070 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 86% for contact with people.
- Also called: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures | 47% | 3% to 30% | |
| Record treatment information in patient records | 8% | 70% to 95% | |
| Expose dental diagnostic x-rays | 8% | 3% to 30% | |
| Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer | 8% | 65% to 92% | |
| Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients | 4% | 20% to 60% | |
| Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts | 4% | 3% to 30% | |
| Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory | 3% | 50% to 85% | |
| Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist | 3% | 40% to 68% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills dental assistants use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers37% of tasks by 2035 · US median $96,590
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $74,310
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses33% of tasks by 2035 · US median $64,400
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists37% of tasks by 2035 · US median $50,290
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Dental Assistants?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2036. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of dental assistants?
Machines can do 18% of the tasks of dental assistants today and 47% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 31-9091.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Dental Assistants: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/dental-assistants/