Dental business owners and associates need to know if a dental associate should be considered independent contractors or employees. So, Are Dentists Independent Contractors? This is important for several reasons, mainly due to IRS regulations. The IRS has published rules on what constitutes an employment relationship regarding whether someone is an independent contractor or employee. These factors take into account state and federal considerations that a court would take into account.
IRS Rules Regarding Dentist Associates
Most dentists and hygienists who work for a dental clinic are deemed employees. When the clinic’s owner controls supplies, equipment, scheduling, receipts, hours of operation and staffing, the worker is classified as an employee. These are IRS points when looking at the classification of workers.
How the Dentist Owner Controls His Employees
As stated, when the owner controls many aspects of the business, he exercises behavioral and financial control. He controls what work is taking place and directing how it is done. The owner controls how the business pays the worker. This is all classified as an employee.
The Exception for Independent Contractors
There are cases when workers can be considered independent contractors by IRS rules. Specialists may practice in a clinic for a limited time and supply their equipment and staff. They may generate separate billings to patients. Are they offered HR services from the employer? If so, what does the human resources department offer them?
This is very much like a service that does office cleaning. In a service like this, the people work for several business owners, and they will provide their equipment, cleaning supplies and cleaners.
It is vital that the contract is reviewed as some employers in the industry would like to avoid paying FICA taxes, which they don’t have to pay when hiring an independent contractor. They also won’t have to have unemployment or workers’ comp insurance. So misrepresenting their employees as independent contractors would be dodging these expenses.
How Much Does a Dental Associate Make?
Starting in the dental industry, you have many choices, so many ask how much does a dental associate make? The typical choice among dental school graduates is to become a dental associate and eventually move up to own your practice. Keep reading to give you some salary-wise as to what you’ll be earning.
Compensation as an Associate Dentist
When entering the dental field, you commonly start as a dental associate. This means dental associates will be an employee or an independent contractor. Starting salaries for dental associates vary greatly, and you must investigate different positions to see the possibilities.
General Associate Dentist Salary
A dental associate’s salary is all over the map, and it depends where you work and who you work for. Some say the salary can be as high as $480,000 a year; others say it ranges between $36,000 and $61,000. Any dental associate can, after many years of practice, take home higher incomes.
Your Salary as an Associate vs the Dental Practice Owner’s Salary
A dental associate usually averages $125,000 to $146,000 a year. A dental employee who owns his practice makes around $175,000 per year. That is a large enough difference to make you wonder which career path you choose. However, remember, the dental practice owner has many more responsibilities and costs and overhead (such as ADA fees, individual society membership, company continuing education, and dental hygienists).
How It Works
As an employee you may receive an hourly rate or perhaps a flat salary, but your compensation will often be based on a percentage of gross revenue. You might get 35% of the production you do, meaning you would get $35 if you produced $100 of dental work on someone. The remainder of the money goes towards upkeep of the practice. If this dental associate wants to earn over $87,000 a year, he must produce $250,000 worth of dental work.
Doing Your Homework with Local News Sources
When joining a practice, you need to do your homework to find out what compensation will be. You also must look at any contract carefully, preferably getting it reviewed by a contract attorney to ensure everything is as you wish.
What is the Difference Between a Dentist and an Associate Dentist?
Many ask what the difference between a dentist and an associate dentist is? When looking towards your career as an independent dental contractor, you will want to embrace all that it means, including whether to be a dental associate or embark on the adventure of owning your dental practice. First you should understand the difference between dental parties. Then you can make informed decisions.
The Difference
Although there are several similarities between dentists and dental associates, there are things you should understand are significantly different between the two. Dentists commonly owns his or her practice and hires other dentists to work for him. Dental associates work in a dental practice but do not own the practice. They are hired under contract either as an employee or independent contractor. Dental associates have many more restrictions than dentists; they don’t make as much money as the owner (obviously) and don’t have as much freedom or resources to utilize. But let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
The Pros of Being an Associate Dentist
When you work as a dental associate, you only wear your hat as dentists. You provide care to your patients; that is all you have to worry about. You don’t have to manage other employees or office duties. You can take extended time off if needed, because the owner or other dental associates are usually in the office to treat patients.
The Cons of Being an Associate Dentist
Of course, there are cons. Your schedule may be less flexible as the owner may want you working particular hours or days. You must play by the owner’s rules and have less flexibility in the materials you use or the time to treat patients. Of course, your financial potential is less. It doesn’t mean you can’t make it happen to become very successful, but it doesn’t happen for everyone.
The Pros and Cons of Being a Dentist and Owning your Practice
The Pros are many. You have much freedom when you are a dental professional who owns the practice. You can create your team of dental associates and office staff under you. When you don’t like something, you can change it. You have a schedule of your creation. However, conversely, you have to be many things, not just a dental professional. You have to be a marketer, the boss, and business owner. You have many more financial responsibilities, such as paying the bills, human resources, payroll, and buying equipment.
Dentist Contract Attorney
When an experienced attorney reviews dental contracts, you will find great financial benefits that outweigh the cost of the contract’s review. If you require assistance with a dental employment agreement or dentistry contract review, schedule a Dentist Contract Review with Chelle Law today!
