Dental Assistants vs Project Management Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Project Management Specialists professionals earn $53,450 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 113.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $165,790 for Project Management Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Project Management Specialists$59,830 – $165,790
$36,190$165,790
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Project Management Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $59,830 | $-23,640 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $76,950 | $-37,430 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $100,750 | $-53,450 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $131,660 | $-74,750 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $165,790 | $-104,010 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $108,100 | $-59,240 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Project Management Specialists
1,006,160
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 Project Management Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,250 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $132,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $125,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $123,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $121,680 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $53,450 (113.0% 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 Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists salaries range from $59,830 (10th percentile) to $165,790 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,750.
How many Dental Assistants and Project Management Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 1,006,160 Project Management Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Project Management Specialists to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Project Management Specialists earns $100,750. 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