Dental Assistants vs Labor Relations Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Labor Relations Specialists professionals earn $46,200 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 97.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $153,440 for Labor Relations Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Labor Relations Specialists$49,880 – $153,440
$36,190$153,440
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Labor Relations Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $49,880 | $-13,690 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $67,670 | $-28,150 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $93,500 | $-46,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $123,090 | $-66,180 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $153,440 | $-91,660 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $97,130 | $-48,270 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Labor Relations Specialists
64,590
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 Labor Relations Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $145,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $126,460 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $118,620 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $106,180 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $105,710 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Labor Relations Specialists?
Labor Relations Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $46,200 (97.7% 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 Labor Relations Specialists?
Labor Relations Specialists salaries range from $49,880 (10th percentile) to $153,440 (90th percentile), with a median of $93,500.
How many Dental Assistants and Labor Relations Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 64,590 Labor Relations Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Labor Relations Specialists to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Labor Relations Specialists earns $93,500. 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