Dental Assistants vs Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Dental Assistants professionals earn $12,400 more per year than Home Health and Personal Care Aides professionals — that's 35.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $44,190 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$25,600 – $44,190
$25,600$61,780
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $25,600 | +$10,590 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $30,370 | +$9,150 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $34,900 | +$12,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $37,980 | +$18,930 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $44,190 | +$17,590 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $34,990 | +$13,870 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
3,988,140
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 Home Health and Personal Care Aides
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46,690 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $44,320 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $39,790 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $39,520 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $38,360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Dental Assistants professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $12,400 (35.5% 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 Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides salaries range from $25,600 (10th percentile) to $44,190 (90th percentile), with a median of $34,900.
How many Dental Assistants and Home Health and Personal Care Aides jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 3,988,140 Home Health and Personal Care Aides positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Home Health and Personal Care Aides to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Home Health and Personal Care Aides earns $34,900. 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