Okay, let’s tackle this. So Athena has 21 years of experience as a Dental Assistant. That’s a long time! In the US, dental assistants with extensive experience can earn around $40,000–$60,000 per year, depending on location and industry demand. Since Athena is based in Mount Vernon, New York, let’s consider the average salary for dental assistants in the NYC area, which is around $55,000 per year. Assuming a 40-hour workweek and 52 weeks per year, that’s around $26.92 per hour. However, this is a relatively low estimate. Considering her experience and skills, I think Athena could charge higher rates, maybe around $25 per hour, considering the lower end of the range for experienced dental assistants in the area.