Dental Assistants vs Training and Development Specialists: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Training and Development Specialists professionals earn $18,550 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 39.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $120,190 for Training and Development Specialists.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Training and Development Specialists$37,510 – $120,190
$36,190$120,190
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Training and Development Specialists | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $37,510 | $-1,320 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $48,900 | $-9,380 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $65,850 | $-18,550 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $91,550 | $-34,640 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $120,190 | $-58,410 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $73,760 | $-24,900 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Training and Development Specialists
436,610
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 Training and Development Specialists
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,530 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92,710 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $92,390 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,330 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $79,210 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Training and Development Specialists?
Training and Development Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $18,550 (39.2% 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 Training and Development Specialists?
Training and Development Specialists salaries range from $37,510 (10th percentile) to $120,190 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,850.
How many Dental Assistants and Training and Development Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 436,610 Training and Development Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Training and Development Specialists to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Training and Development Specialists earns $65,850. 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