Rate of Commision

I am currently working on commision. I have been a RDH for 8 years and am also incorporated. I make 34% on scaling, prophy and fluoride, nothing for recalls and BW's. Does this sound reasonable? I don't know any RDH other than those at my office working on commmision. Just wondering if I am being taken advantage of.

That's good! no guarantees for no show patients? bleaching incentives? it's a high percentage, 28-32% for me. depends on production met.

I have worked for 50% of everything I do and 50% for everything but BWX and 25%for them. That has been reduced to 33% I hear for the new hygienist. It has been my experience that on commission I made more $ at the time, but I do better in the long run hourly as I cannot absorb the no shows or a lazy front desk that doesn't book me. Good luck!

The practice I work for is very production goal oriented. I have to say that we are very successful, but I don't feel that I am fully compensated. I make $28 an hour and I am pushed to try to sell and bring in a daily production goal of $1000. We work with a coulpe low paying insurance companies; in which, doesn't help. Is it fair for me to ask for some commission? If so, for what percentage and which precedures.
Thanks for your help.

I don't know how salaries run in your location, but for me a high production day would be $1400 plus. I was making $35 an hour but lost my job Dec 18th due to the slow economy. This involved no selling. I don't sell, ever. I have been in that trap and I don't do well. I am the type to tell patients go to Walmart for whitening as that is what I would do. Keep in mind there is an abundance of hygienists out of work right now and it might be a good idea to wait to speak up. Good Luck!

We just started working on commission and I struggle to meet goal when there is an increasing number of cancellations and there are 2 hygiene schedules to be filled. Not every patient needs x-rays and not every patient is perio. Any advise, suggestions?

I used to double book at least once in the am and pm. I would schedule my 2nd 15 min after the hour and I never had trouble if they both showed. Also, try to schedule your higher production in the am. A consultant I worked with told the dr to always schedule crown and bridge in the am so he could absorb the no shows in the afternoon which is more common so I did it too with my perio and it helped my commission alot. If you have any control over your schedule and you know x-rays won't be taken at the next 6 mo. appt, cut that appt by 10 or 15 min. You won't need as much time and can work in another person ahead of time. Same thing for a regular pt you know has good hygiene and is a quick prophy. If the front desk does the scheduling, put a post-it on the front of the chart and hand it to her when you exit the pt. ie-30 min next rc. I would always tell the pt "next time your appt will be a little quicker because you won't need to update your bwx" that way they know why. Also, don't forget FMD. I have been in a lot of offices that do gross scales time after time and bill them out as prophy's. I go get dr and we discuss tx in front of pt. (I get this worked out beforehand) You not only make $ for you but for the practice too. Go over the dr's charts every morning and see who is due for prophy, perio maint, or fmx and work them in on your side is they are agreeable. I always could get fmx because pts often have to wait for dr for some reason and I'd explain we can do this while you wait and save time at your cleaning. Keep your own short call list. Pt's were always more willing to come in on for me than for the front desk. When you are on commission, your pay depends on the front desk keeping your schedule full. If they start slacking, go to the dr asap. The more you let dr know you are willing to move and let him know you had down time or too much time scheduled the more he will keep an eye on the schedule.

I work in 2 different offices...one is commission, one salary. I make quite a bit more a day working commission, even working one less hour per day in that office.. For me, this more than makes up for the occasional off day. But...there aren't as many benefits in that office, and I do a lot of the recall scheduling in my room on computer so I don't have to rely on the front desk to totally fill my schedule. (even though they love to keep me busy and are great at scheduling and filling holes. Sometimes better than I want them to be. lol) I receive commission on any production that runs through my room, including x-rays, but excluding periodic exams. I think the average commission pay in this area(if you can find someone to pay this way) is 40%.

40% is very good. When I started working commission in 1999 I made 50%. When I left the same office in 2006 I had been reduced to 29%, even though my production was always $1300 to $1400 a day. Needless to say that's why I left.

I work for a dentist in Clarkston, Michigan. He owns multiple realstate in Michigan and even more in Florida. He lives in a very expensive community in Clarkston. He has a home in Florida and in Steamboat, Colorado that he visits up to six times a year for either a long weekend or up to two weeks at a time. His parents paid for all his education (no loans to pay back). His parents also bought him his first practice (no loan to pay back). He has been in practice approximately 40 years now. I was hired in almost four years ago and the other RDH almost eight years ago. I do not get medical through my dentist and there is no 401K available. I was making $29 an hour and the other RDH $31 an hour. Monday he announces he is not doing well in the realstate business in Florida and production is down at our Clarkston office. He told us he is going to start paying us by production at 25%. He made this retroactive from two weeks ago. I have lost over $300 a pay check and almost $700 a month. At this rate my husband informed me we will be giving our house back to the bank in about six months. Does anyone know if any of this is legal??

I don't know the laws in MI, but it would be legal in Indiana. Here he can pay you whatever he chooses as long as it meets the minimum wage act guidelines. Indiana is an "at will" state. Both parties may terminate their job with or without notice, for any reason. Neither party even has to give a reason. Pay falls under the same. He can decrease your hourly wage and you have the right to accept it or leave.
You can still make pretty decent money at 25% if you are given commission on SRP, gross scale, x-rays, prophys, fl2 tx, sealants, whitening and products such as Sonicare tb's. Any time I have been on commission I have been paid for anything that generates revenue except exams. One dr did give me 10% of exam because he liked my charting, which wasn't a lot of money but $50 a day adds up over a year. I would suggest you find out before too much time goes by if you get paid for all of your production or if he's putting stipulations on it. How is he going to pay for time when you are required to attend training or staff meetings? Your time is not free. Also, say if an asst takes your x-rays to help out does hygiene still get the percentage? I had one try to pull that and suddenly I was losing a few hundred a day. So I told them to just let me get to it, I didn't want their help. It can cause hard feelings but it's your paycheck. I once went from 50% to 29% overnight. It was devastating!
I know I offered more than your question, just thought it might help.

I get 34%, but none on exams and x-rays. It's still good because my avg hourly wage comes out to around $90/hour.

I have worked on commission for almost a year. I get 37% of my production but no longer get vacation or holiday pay. After 32 years of practice I lose income when I need to miss work due to weather (which Minnesota has had alot of this winter)and also if holidays fall during the week on scheduled work days. Our office has become very competitive. The senior hygienist does more perio treating in office, does x-rays more frequently than the office protocol practices and has the front desk schedule her on her day off to treat a patient that could have been seen by a hygienist that day. The doctors have been having an assistant do more BW and FMX rather than pay the hygienists to do them. I am not happy with the system but have to be thankful I have a job in this lay off economy.

Thank you, Suzanne, very much for your insight. I do know we are an 'at will' state too. I'm not sure if I will be getting a % of items sold. I will be asking about that. How much time do you give for a gross scale (debridement) if you were first given 60 minutes? Do you bring them back for 30 minutes on a different day?

I usually do the gross scale the same day as the new patient appt unless they're medicaid. (I use Oraqix and my ultrasonic.) If time doesn't allow, the office I'm in now gives me another 30 min and then the prophy appt is 30 min too. But, I currently get only 15 min for all NP medicaid adults or kids so there's only so much I can get done. So far it's x-rays and the exam. If it's an insurance pt I get 30 min. If it's private pay I get 45. Can you believe it? I hate it. :)

Suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: I usually do the gross scale the same day as the new patient appt unless they're medicaid. (I use Oraqix and my ultrasonic.) If time doesn't allow, the office I'm in now gives me another 30 min and then the prophy appt is 30 min too. But, I currently get only 15 min for all NP medicaid adults or kids so there's only so much I can get done. So far it's x-rays and the exam. If it's an insurance pt I get 30 min. If it's private pay I get 45. Can you believe it? I hate it. :)

What in the world? You need a new job! Hopefully when the economy gets better this will happen.

Wow! I would never be able to sleep at night. That is not what we went through all that training for. They are almost abusing you. 15 mins for a new patient?!!? I need that much time to get their history and xrays. And what if they are late?? My one dr. wants this type of change, but he is the first one to let you know right in front of the patient that "you missed a ledge of calc on the mesial of 14." I want to tell him to go jump off that ledge! We got our first pay check since the change. Instead of doing the % he decided for the first check to do straight pt hours mulitplied by $25. He shorted me 5 hours and the other hyg 6 hours. If there is a screw up doing striaght math, I'm not looking forward to trying to calculate %. Does your office manager go back when claims come in 2 to 3 weeks later and give you the adjustment?

I am an aspiring Dental Hygeinist, but after reading this forum I am afraid to proceed. Is this a secured profession? Have a chosen poorly? I wan not even aware that you could work on commission. I have always thought that commision was bad. i won't have my degree for another couple of years, and worried that even by thenI won't find work or make good money.

Sheena in Indianapolis, Indiana said: I am an aspiring Dental Hygeinist, but after reading this forum I am afraid to proceed. Is this a secured profession? Have a chosen poorly? I wan not even aware that you could work on commission. I have always thought that commision was bad. i won't have my degree for another couple of years, and worried that even by thenI won't find work or make good money.

Dental hygiene is a good career depending on what you are looking for and what state you live in. Some states, like Illinois, are becoming oversaturated with hygienists making is fairly difficult to find a good full time job, with a reasonable boss and decent pay. Other states however, are not as oversaturated and you can find a steady full-time job, with reasonable pay, and a good boss. It just depends.

Also, when considering hygiene as a professsion, it is important to know that depending on where you live, it can be tough to find a dental office that is able to accomodate a full-time hygienist. In fact, most hygienists work at more than one office in order to get 30 plus hours per week.

On the other hand, hygiene has its perks too. For one, we have flexible working hours. Also, depending on where you live, the pay can be very good too. Furthermore, commission is not necessarily a bad thing if you have a fair boss, and the office is busy. I know one hygienist that is making $120,000 annually. She is paid 50% commission on everything excluding exams. Anothother friend of mine is making $105,000 annually off commsiion. I am currently paid hourly and make between $70,000 - $80,000 annually. Yet, if I were paid on commission, I would easily be in the six-figure range. (Believe me, I asked!) However, this is just at the offices where I work. Again it just depends. On the flip side, I have a another girlfriend who is getting 50% on everything, but because the office is slow, it is equivalent to her making about $29 per hour. Hope this help

Sheena in Indianapolis, Indiana said: I am an aspiring Dental Hygeinist, but after reading this forum I am afraid to proceed. Is this a secured profession? Have a chosen poorly? I wan not even aware that you could work on commission. I have always thought that commision was bad. i won't have my degree for another couple of years, and worried that even by thenI won't find work or make good money.

Sheena, if you have any more questions, pleae ask. I would love to help

I am a recent graduate from hygiene school in December of 2009. I am having a difficult time finding a job as a hygienist. I live in Miami, FL. I have been on a couple of interviews only to be told that I don't have enough experience. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do?

joselyb1223 in Hialeah, Florida said: I am a recent graduate from hygiene school in December of 2009. I am having a difficult time finding a job as a hygienist. I live in Miami, FL. I have been on a couple of interviews only to be told that I don't have enough experience. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do?

Joselyb, Are you able to work for a temp ag in FL? I know it is rough out there....have you called dropped by the two offices which interviewed you? You probably have, but will put this on here anyway: googled dentists in towns/cities near where you live to obtain info/locations to visit, checked all websites for jobs on line for FLA. ( I look at a few, at least daily), gone to conferences with your business cards and/or resumes on hand (just in case...sometimes you find 1 or 2 Dr.'s interested)...Continue whatever tangents you can, but also, maybe to just get in the door, see if you can gopher...alot less pay, but shows initiative on your part.

Hello, it took me sveral months to find a permanent position. I signed up with a temp agency. It wasn't consistant, but that is how I found the office that I've been in for 2 1/2yrs now. When an office in hiring go into the office to drop off your resume, it's more personable that way. If you have no dental experience try to amp up your resume everyway possible. Don't worry, it will come.

I have been a hygienist for 26 years. 10 years at a periodontal office and 16 in my current general practice office. I am very happy there but because business is slow we have not been able to get bonus and pay raise in the last few years. The doctor now says he can not afford to pay us salary (which has been the way for the last 16 years for me) He offered 30% commission from collection or 20% from production. I am lost, would somebody advise please? I would like to stay in this office, I just need to make sure is it fare to both sides.

I know how you feel. A similar situation has been going on at my office since February. My family has sacraficed as much as possible. It has not gotten any better at work. My doctor is LOVING the extra money he is pocketing (his wife too as she continues to redecorate one of the three $1 million homes they own. Along the way he has become dishonest with his staff as well as with the patients. We are losing the use of ethics and standard of care. I have lost respect for my doctor as well. I having been looking for another place of employment since March. I waited a month before I started looking b/c I also didn't want to leave. I need a place that I can provide standard of care, ethics, and professionalism. My doctor had damaged my way of thinking so much that I even questioned staying in the dental field. I wouldn't mind serving ice cream instead! But in my heart I know my true love is educating patients and improving their oral health. I go to work every day for my patients, but I don't stop looking for another dental office out there. Start looking now before it gets too bad.

suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: 40% is very good. When I started working commission in 1999 I made 50%. When I left the same office in 2006 I had been reduced to 29%, even though my production was always $1300 to $1400 a day. Needless to say that's why I left.

How is it even possible for a doc to offer 50% commision? Office overheads are 60% or more. He is LOSING money by having you work for him.....

SamanthaL in Burnaby, British Columbia said: How is it even possible for a doc to offer 50% commision? Office overheads are 60% or more. He is LOSING money by having you work for him.....

It was the offer he made me to start with. At that time (1995) it was pretty much standard for our location. Keep in mind his idea was to pay me well and keep me for the long term. I got no benefits, not even 1 paid holiday or vacation the entire 7 years I was there. He didn't pay for CEs or uniforms either. If you compared my pay to other hygienists who made less pay but got insurance, 401K, holidays, sick days, vacation I still came out on the losing end. The benefits are what makes a job worthwhile in the longrun, IMO. Of course in 1995 I was a new grad and $350 a day seemed like all the money in the world! I know better now that I'm 54 and have for quite sometime. Do you have any idea how much money I produced for him over the years? It's staggering. Even at the 29% he was making money hand over fist from me. At another office my production was over 200K and I made 53K with no benefits. That stinks.

Suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: It was the offer he made me to start with. At that time (1995) it was pretty much standard for our location. Keep in mind his idea was to pay me well and keep me for the long term. I got no benefits, not even 1 paid holiday or vacation the entire 7 years I was there. He didn't pay for CEs or uniforms either. If you compared my pay to other hygienists who made less pay but got insurance, 401K, holidays, sick days, vacation I still came out on the losing end. The benefits are what makes a job worthwhile in the longrun, IMO. Of course in 1995 I was a new grad and $350 a day seemed like all the money in the world! I know better now that I'm 54 and have for quite sometime. Do you have any idea how much money I produced for him over the years? It's staggering. Even at the 29% he was making money hand over fist from me. At another office my production was over 200K and I made 53K with no benefits. That stinks.

Hi Suzanne, I don't think unless you work for an ethical Dr. and you are great at knowing how to calculate to the tee, what you will make, commission is not the way to go....but of course, many will do anything to get in the door. Better IMO, to take a set hourly pay and benefits of any kind first if you can obtain them. Many newbies out there think we older RDH's are leaving, some may retrain, but maintain their licenses, so this attrition of the older ones leaving....NOT happening anytime soon....and so the oversaturation, the info. we give as to the outlook for DH, etc. will continue to only get through to a very few....competitive backstabbing is at a high unfortunately and some Dr.'s are loving it. Not the field of: work when you want, where you want , for pay that is decent with our expertise, etc....a dream ...of the past....look into fields that OFFER BENEFITS! Sorry S. for the "p.....off" writing but it just .....what we are going through as a profession...fairness, ha...a thing of the past.

Suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: It was the offer he made me to start with. At that time (1995) it was pretty much standard for our location. Keep in mind his idea was to pay me well and keep me for the long term. I got no benefits, not even 1 paid holiday or vacation the entire 7 years I was there. He didn't pay for CEs or uniforms either. If you compared my pay to other hygienists who made less pay but got insurance, 401K, holidays, sick days, vacation I still came out on the losing end. The benefits are what makes a job worthwhile in the longrun, IMO. Of course in 1995 I was a new grad and $350 a day seemed like all the money in the world! I know better now that I'm 54 and have for quite sometime. Do you have any idea how much money I produced for him over the years? It's staggering. Even at the 29% he was making money hand over fist from me. At another office my production was over 200K and I made 53K with no benefits. That stinks.

Hi Suzanne, I don't think unless you work for an ethical Dr. and you are great at knowing how to calculate to the tee, what you will make, commission is not the way to go....but of course, many will do anything to get in the door. Better IMO, to take a set hourly pay and benefits of any kind first if you can obtain them. Many newbies out there think we older RDH's are leaving, some may retrain, but maintain their licenses, so this attrition of the older ones leaving....NOT happening anytime soon....and so the oversaturation, the info. we give as to the outlook for DH, etc. will continue to only get through to a very few....competitive backstabbing is at a high unfortunately and some Dr.'s are loving it. Not the field of: work when you want, where you want , for pay that is decent with our expertise, etc....a dream ...of the past....look into fields that OFFER BENEFITS! Sorry S. for the "p.....off" writing but it just .....what we are going through as a profession...fairness, ha...a thing of the past.

Hey, how are things going for you? Any more work? I agree, the doc's are having a joyous time of it knowing we are vulnerable and need jobs so desperately. Many are using it to their advantage. Such is life, the greedy attitude of all for me and none for thee is alive and well. I know there are ethical doc's out there, I just haven't worked for any except 1. I wish the hygienists entering the profession could have a glimpse of how things were 15/20 years ago. Then they'd understand where we're coming from in terms of decline of ethics and opportunity, not to mention pay.

Suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: Hey, how are things going for you? Any more work? I agree, the doc's are having a joyous time of it knowing we are vulnerable and need jobs so desperately. Many are using it to their advantage. Such is life, the greedy attitude of all for me and none for thee is alive and well. I know there are ethical doc's out there, I just haven't worked for any except 1. I wish the hygienists entering the profession could have a glimpse of how things were 15/20 years ago. Then they'd understand where we're coming from in terms of decline of ethics and opportunity, not to mention pay.

Hi Suzanne! Yup, you are right on the MARK!!! They want to learn the hard way, have us make room for them...not easily ...WHY? Because we need to rebuild for our retirement...HELLO!...many of us even if we choose to work elsewhere, are not in situations of the past of any type of retirement benefits (many of us have never received these....so I know I will be working in some capacity until they won't hire me in any position). To the newbies....
if you , not all, some have compassion for the older RDH's....don't watch your tongues...as many spew on here of the holier than thou, on a pedestal attitude, etc....to their colleagues, I hope you don't step on your tongues or get kicked in ......watch your nastiness...it will ultimately be to your detriment (sp). Sorry for the Van Gough S. It just ticks me off...techie news, and computer research is not the be all end all that the newbies believe as "the WORD....and TRUTH!"...
Work is still slow, I keep calling...but the oversat...will never....NEVER be absorbed, sad to think of all the $ spent to find NON-sustainable employment. This field is NOT "....my passion of all I've ever wanted!"...grow up people....we do not have a say in this field as to anything: ben's/hours/etc...ANYMORE. If you are one of the fortunate ones in today "field of the RDH" watch your attacks, all will come back to you

Suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: Hey, how are things going for you? Any more work? I agree, the doc's are having a joyous time of it knowing we are vulnerable and need jobs so desperately. Many are using it to their advantage. Such is life, the greedy attitude of all for me and none for thee is alive and well. I know there are ethical doc's out there, I just haven't worked for any except 1. I wish the hygienists entering the profession could have a glimpse of how things were 15/20 years ago. Then they'd understand where we're coming from in terms of decline of ethics and opportunity, not to mention pay.

Hi Suzanne! Yup, you are right on the MARK!!! They want to learn the hard way, have us make room for them...not easily ...WHY? Because we need to rebuild for our retirement...HELLO!...many of us even if we choose to work elsewhere, are not in situations of the past of any type of retirement benefits (many of us have never received these....so I know I will be working in some capacity until they won't hire me in any position). To the newbies....
if you , not all, some have compassion for the older RDH's....don't watch your tongues...as many spew on here of the holier than thou, on a pedestal attitude, etc....to their colleagues, I hope you don't step on your tongues or get kicked in ......watch your nastiness...it will ultimately be to your detriment (sp). Sorry for the Van Gough S. It just ticks me off...techie news, and computer research is not the be all end all that the newbies believe as "the WORD....and TRUTH!"...
Work is still slow, I keep calling...but the oversat...will never....NEVER be absorbed, sad to think of all the $ spent to find NON-sustainable employment. This field is NOT "....my passion of all I've ever wanted!"...grow up people....we do not have a say in this field as to anything: ben's/hours/etc...ANYMORE. If you are one of the fortunate ones in today "field of the RDH" watch your attacks, all will come back to you

Suzanne in Terre Haute, Indiana said: Hey, how are things going for you? Any more work? I agree, the doc's are having a joyous time of it knowing we are vulnerable and need jobs so desperately. Many are using it to their advantage. Such is life, the greedy attitude of all for me and none for thee is alive and well. I know there are ethical doc's out there, I just haven't worked for any except 1. I wish the hygienists entering the profession could have a glimpse of how things were 15/20 years ago. Then they'd understand where we're coming from in terms of decline of ethics and opportunity, not to mention pay.

Hi Suzanne! Yup, you are right on the MARK!!! They want to learn the hard way, have us make room for them...not easily ...WHY? Because we need to rebuild for our retirement...HELLO!...many of us even if we choose to work elsewhere, are not in situations of the past of any type of retirement benefits (many of us have never received these....so I know I will be working in some capacity until they won't hire me in any position). To the newbies....
if you , not all, some have compassion for the older RDH's....don't watch your tongues...as many spew on here of the holier than thou, on a pedestal attitude, etc....to their colleagues, I hope you don't step on your tongues or get kicked in ......watch your nastiness...it will ultimately be to your detriment (sp). Sorry for the Van Gough S. It just ticks me off...techie news, and computer research is not the be all end all that the newbies believe as "the WORD....and TRUTH!"...
Work is still slow, I keep calling...but the oversat...will never....NEVER be absorbed, sad to think of all the $ spent to find NON-sustainable employment. This field is NOT "....my passion of all I've ever wanted!"...grow up people....we do not have a say in this field as to anything: ben's/hours/etc...ANYMORE. If you are one of the fortunate ones in today "field of the RDH" watch your attacks, all will come back to you

So I'm going for a job interview and the office manager was talking about commission based or salary based. When he means salary does that mean hourly? I don't feel comfortable about commission. Is commission a bad way to go?

StaceyinDetroit in Detroit, Michigan said: So I'm going for a job interview and the office manager was talking about commission based or salary based. When he means salary does that mean hourly? I don't feel comfortable about commission. Is commission a bad way to go?

Salary usually means you get the same amount each check no matter how much you worked. Just confirm that with them.
Commission can be very lucrative if the office is busy and they give you >30%

rdh in Calgary, Alberta said: Salary usually means you get the same amount each check no matter how much you worked. Just confirm that with them.
Commission can be very lucrative if the office is busy and they give you >30%

yeah he was talking about greater than 35% but I'm unsure because I just graduated and all this stuff seems so confusing.

There is so much you need to find out first about commission before you accept it. My doctor went from paying me $30 an hour to 25% commission. I am averaging $23 to $24 an hour now. I do not get any part of the exam even though it is done in MY chair on MY time.(the doctor is more often late than early or even on time with his exams which puts me behind for the rest of my patients and that means the rest of the day is pure hell) Then I learned that we get the percentage of what the insurance pays. So that means that if we charge $82 for a prophy the insurance company may only pay $53 so I'm actully getting $13.25 an hour for that prophy. We figured approximately 46% of our patients are Delta Dental PPO which are low paying. The doctor now only wants to give 30 minutes to clean, get xrays, and do an exam and also go over changes in health history and get chief complaint. This doesn't include 'what if the patient is late.' The other thing you have to find out is if you get vacation pay, how much an hour that will actually be. Mine went from $30 an hour to $25. That is a lot when you add it up. Do your homework. That is the only advice I can give you. I have been looking for a new place of employment since March. Good luck.