Dental Assistant (RDA) Temp Jobs in Calgary

Calgary clinics post assistant shifts on Fairly all the time: chairside days, steri coverage, and everything between. You set your hourly rate, keep all of it, and pick only the shifts that fit. The app is free for dental assistants.

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Temping as an RDA in Calgary

Assistants are the most flexible role in a dental clinic, and temping puts that flexibility to work for you instead of just your employer. On any given week in Calgary, the app might show a chairside day at a general practice, a steri-heavy day covering a sick call, or a specialty clinic that needs an extra set of hands:

  • Every posting says what the day actually is: assisting, sterilization, or a mix, plus the software and parking situation.
  • You apply only to shifts that fit your skills and your schedule. No one assigns you anywhere.
  • Work across GP, ortho, and surgical offices to build range, or stick to the practice style you know best.

What Calgary dental assistants earn

From The Going Rate, our annual report on real Alberta shift data:

  • Median RDA rate on Alberta shifts: $35/hr
  • Stable across all four years we have tracked

A stable median cuts both ways: it makes your income predictable, and it means the fastest way to earn more per hour is a rate you control rather than a raise you wait for. On Fairly you set your price, clinics book you at it, and nothing is deducted from your pay.

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Assistant shifts in the app

Wed, Aug 26
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Cranston Family Dental
9.3 km away
Mon, Aug 31
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuxedo Park Dental
5.7 km away

Tap a shift to see the role, duties, software, and parking before you apply. Your rate stays yours, in full.

CADA registration & verification

Dental assistants in Alberta are regulated by the College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA), and you need active registration to temp through Fairly. We verify every assistant's registration and identity before their first shift. That vetting is why Calgary clinics book temps through the platform instead of scrolling social media groups, and it typically takes less than a day.

How booking works

1

Create your free profile, set your hourly rate, and get verified. Most assistants are approved within a day.

2

Browse Calgary assistant shifts and apply to the ones that match your skills. The clinic reviews applicants and books in the app.

3

Work the shift and get paid through Fairly Pay™. Clinics that like your work rebook you directly, and your completed shifts build a track record on your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do temp dental assistants make in Calgary?
You set your own hourly rate and keep 100% of it. For context, the median RDA rate on Alberta shifts is $35/hr, and it has held stable across all four years tracked in The Going Rate, our annual rate report.
Do I need to be registered to temp as a dental assistant in Alberta?
Yes. You need active registration with the College of Alberta Dental Assistants (CADA). Fairly verifies every assistant's registration and identity before their first shift, and approval typically takes less than a day.
What kinds of assistant shifts get posted in Calgary?
Mostly chairside assisting at general practices, along with sterilization-focused days and shifts at specialty clinics like ortho and oral surgery. Each posting states the role and expectations up front, so you know whether you are assisting, running steri, or both before you apply.
I'm a newer RDA. Can I still temp?
Yes, as long as you hold CADA registration. Temping is a common way for newer assistants to see different practice styles, software, and specialties before committing to a permanent chair. Clinics see your profile and choose, so every booking is a clinic that picked you.
When and how do I get paid?
Through Fairly Pay: payment is initiated as soon as the clinic approves your completed shift and arrives by direct deposit, with instant payouts where your bank supports them. Contractor invoices or CRA-compliant paystubs are generated automatically depending on how you work.

Hygienist instead? See dental hygienist temp jobs in Calgary, or browse all dental temp jobs in Calgary. Looking for a permanent chair? Permanent dental jobs are on Fairly Connect. Clinics needing assistant coverage can start at the assistant temp agency alternative.

Assistant shifts across Calgary, at your rate. Download the free app and start picking your days.

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