SalaryByCity

Dental Assistants vs Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Dental Assistants

$47,300

Median annual salary

375,430 employed nationally

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

$62,340

Median annual salary

1,393,310 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education professionals earn $15,040 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 31.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $102,010 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$46,440 – $102,010
$36,190$102,010

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental AssistantsElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationDifference
10th Percentile$36,190$46,440$-10,250
25th Percentile$39,520$50,680$-11,160
Median (50th)$47,300$62,340$-15,040
75th Percentile$56,910$79,410$-22,500
90th Percentile$61,780$102,010$-40,230
Mean (Average)$48,860$69,790$-20,930

Employment Numbers

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

1,393,310

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Dental Assistants

CityMedian
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$65,360
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$64,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$62,700
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$60,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$59,270

Best Cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

CityMedian
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$100,580
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$99,780
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$98,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$98,270

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $15,040 (31.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Dental Assistants?
Dental Assistants salaries range from $36,190 (10th percentile) to $61,780 (90th percentile), with a median of $47,300.
What is the salary range for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries range from $46,440 (10th percentile) to $102,010 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
How many Dental Assistants and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 1,393,310 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earns $62,340. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS