2023 Salary Survey Report
See how you comparePosted September 24, 2019
A career as a dental office manager can be incredibly rewarding. There’s so much job satisfaction in knowing you’re a key player in your practice, directly impacting how smoothly things run. However, it’s also one of the most demanding jobs in dentistry, and few people understand what it takes to do the job while making it look fairly effortless!
The role of office manager becomes more demanding every year. I’ve seen how critical they are to the success of a practice, and I’m amazed at how energetic and resourceful these women and men are.
Fred Joyal, founder of Futuredontics, the parent company of 1-800-DENTIST
In 2014, Futuredontics surveyed 356 dental office managers to gain an insider’s view of the job. The survey uncovered an unfiltered look at the career goals and the personal and business challenges modern dental office managers face.
Recent surveys by DentalPost, published in early 2022, provide some additional insights. We’ve pulled the highlights to show you just what a dental office manager’s “secret life” actually looks like.
According to DentalPost’s 2022 salary survey:
When the current generation of managers retires, the industry will likely face a serious talent shortage. So, with low turnover and unequal gender distribution, it might become increasingly difficult to recruit experienced managers. On the balancing side of the scale, are the increased wages in management that will motivate front office staff members to develop into practice managers.
DentalPost’s 2022 salary survey disclosed that nearly 88% of (nonmanagement) front office staff members are paid an average hourly rate of $21.60, which is $6.40 less than the average $28 practice managers make per hour.
Most office managers say they have a “good-to-amazing” work/life balance. The biggest culture concern is office drama, and the number one career concern is burnout.
DentalPost’s 2022 job satisfaction survey found that their top “like” is the ability to use their skills (70.5%), followed by positive interaction with patients (64.5%).
There’s a lot to love about being a dental office manager if you can find the right practice and culture fit. With the right skills, self-motivation, and opportunities, a career as a dental office manager is not only rewarding but also very achievable because:
In 2019, Futuredontics reported that:
Managers prefer working with people directly. So, if you’re a practice owner, make sure marketing efforts aren’t left on the shoulders of your dental office manager. They need time to focus on the day-to-day of your business.
While digital is important to your practice’s marketing efforts, managers know that nothing compares to a great review by a friend.
Therefore, a well-run practice means a dental office manager is working hard behind the scenes. DOMs greatly ensure success, from staff training to patient acquisition. And while a “typical” dental office manager might seem to fit into a “type,” it’s not nearly as cut-and-dry when you dive into the data.
DentalPost’s 2022 salary survey found that in many private dental practices, the office manager is also cross-trained to be a dental assistant when needed. Office managers perform a “heroic” wide range of duties, including answering the phone, patient scheduling, front office cleaning, in-office hospitality, payment collections, fee presentation, insurance claim processing, marketing, bookkeeping, supply ordering, vendor relations, and IT support.
Ultimately, treating your dental office manager with respect and giving them the tools to do their job is always the best way to unlock your dental office manager’s full potential.
To learn more, download your free copy of Futuredontics’ full report, “The Secret Life of the Dental Office Manager,” and download DentalPost’s full reports: Dental Office Manager Salary Survey Report 2022 and Dental Job Satisfaction Poll 2022.
Updated August 2022.