SalaryByCity

Dental Assistants vs Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners: 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

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

$35,930

Median annual salary

2,199,900 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Dental Assistants professionals earn $11,370 more per year than Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners professionals — that's 31.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $49,040 for Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$27,570 – $49,040
$27,570$61,780

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental AssistantsJanitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersDifference
10th Percentile$36,190$27,570+$8,620
25th Percentile$39,520$30,830+$8,690
Median (50th)$47,300$35,930+$11,370
75th Percentile$56,910$41,650+$15,260
90th Percentile$61,780$49,040+$12,740
Mean (Average)$48,860$37,460+$11,400

Employment Numbers

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

2,199,900

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 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

CityMedian
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$46,230
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$44,820
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$43,530
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$42,920
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$40,350

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Dental Assistants professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $11,370 (31.6% 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 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners?
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners salaries range from $27,570 (10th percentile) to $49,040 (90th percentile), with a median of $35,930.
How many Dental Assistants and Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 2,199,900 Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners earns $35,930. 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