Dental Assistants vs Financial Analysts: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Analysts professionals earn $54,050 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 114.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $180,550 for Financial Analysts.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Financial Analysts$62,410 – $180,550
$36,190$180,550
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Financial Analysts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $62,410 | $-26,220 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $78,300 | $-38,780 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $101,350 | $-54,050 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $132,050 | $-75,140 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $180,550 | $-118,770 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $116,490 | $-67,630 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Financial Analysts
340,580
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Dental Assistants
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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 Financial Analysts
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,470 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $128,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $128,470 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $111,410 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $110,450 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $54,050 (114.3% 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 Financial Analysts?
Financial Analysts salaries range from $62,410 (10th percentile) to $180,550 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,350.
How many Dental Assistants and Financial Analysts jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 340,580 Financial Analysts positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Analysts to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Financial Analysts earns $101,350. 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