Dental Assistants vs Tax Preparers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Tax Preparers professionals earn $3,260 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 6.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $96,240 for Tax Preparers.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$96,240
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Tax Preparers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $30,500 | +$5,690 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $37,750 | +$1,770 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $50,560 | $-3,260 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $75,590 | $-18,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $96,240 | $-34,460 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $58,860 | $-10,000 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Tax Preparers
73,570
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 Tax Preparers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $83,600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $83,240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $74,670 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,990 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $68,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $3,260 (6.9% 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 Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Dental Assistants and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Tax Preparers earns $50,560. 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