Dental Assistant

COLLEGE BOUND MAINE! | ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS

Maine's University System

Maine's Community Colleges

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Dental Assistant

Education: Associate degree

Salary: $ 28,000 per year

Your pay: $ 1,750 per month (after you pay taxes!)

Benefits: Full package (can include paid vacation, sick days, and retirement savings)

Vacation: 3 weeks

Can You Afford Your New Life?

Check below what you would like to have in your new life, then submit your choices to find out if you can afford all of your needs and wants based on your income. Feel free to go back and change some of your answers, just click the submit button once again and your budget will be recalculated. (Big Hint: you might find that a college education can help you afford your new life). Ready? Ok, Get a Life!

Choose your Home

Apartment with roommate(s): $300
Your own one bedroom apartment: $600
Your own two bedroom apartment: $750
Own your own house: $1400

Select your Heat & Electricity Cost based on your above selection

Apartment with roommate(s): $75
Your own one bedroom apartment $125
Your own two bedroom apartment $175
Own your own house: $300

Choose your monthly payment for transportation

Riding your bicycle: $0
Riding the Bus: $75
Used car - 1996 Jeep: $125
New compact car - Ford Focus $ 200
New 4 x 4 Truck: $325
New sports car - Mustang Convertible: $350

Select your monthly insurance cost based on the selection above

Used Car - 1996 Jeep: $60
New compact car - Ford Focus: $75
New 4x4 truck: $100
New sports car - Mustang convertible: $125

Budget the monthly amount you'll spend on gas

Riding the bus or your bicycle: $0
Used car - 1996 Jeep: $150
New compact car - Ford Focus: $100
New 4 x 4 truck: $150 per month
New sports car - Mustang convertible: $150 per month

Budget the Amount you want to spend on Food

Food $100 per month
Food $200 per month
Food $300 per month
Food $400 per month

Choose a monthly telephone and/or wireless phone option:

No Telephone: $0 per month
Telephone without long distance: $30 per month
Telephone w/dial-up internet and long distance: $50 per month
No cell phone: $0 per month
Cell phone: $50 per month

Choose one clothing expense

New clothes $75 per month
New clothes $100 per month
New clothes $150 per month

Student Loans - based on degree required for your occupation

High School Diploma: $0 per month
Associate Degree: $100 per month
Bachelor Degree $200 per month
Master/Doctoral Degree $300 per month

Choose other optional living expenses

Basic Cable TV: $15 per month
Cable TV: $40 per month
Cable w/ premium channels: $80 per month
Direct TV: $45 per month
Direct TV w/premium channels: $60 per month
Dial-up Internet service: $20 per month
High-speed Internet service: $45 per month
Owning a pet dog or cat: $25 per month
Credit card balance: $100 per month
New desktop computer: $75 per month
Savings Account: $100 per month

Choose fun monthly expenses

Going out with friends: $100 per month
Going out to dinner once a week: $50 per month
Gym membership: $30 per month
Attending movies: $28 per month
Go to play or athletic game: $25 per month
Purchase movies, CD's, or iTunes $20 per month
Other $
Other $
Other $

What do you make each month	$
Total of Expenses	$
MONEY LEFT OVER	$

1) Can you afford all that you checked with what you get paid each month? YES NO WAY

2) Remove some of items you can live without so you can live within your financial limits and

your budget again.

3) Are you happy with your choices? What changes would you make?

College Bound Maine! is a website dedicated to assisting Maine students seeking post-secondary opportunities.