SalaryByCity

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators vs Dental Assistants: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

$76,790

Median annual salary

305,020 employed nationally

Dental Assistants

$47,300

Median annual salary

375,430 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn $29,490 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 62.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earns $112,150 compared to $61,780 for Dental Assistants.

Salary Range Comparison

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$47,810 – $112,150
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
$36,190$112,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClaims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsDental AssistantsDifference
10th Percentile$47,810$36,190+$11,620
25th Percentile$60,100$39,520+$20,580
Median (50th)$76,790$47,300+$29,490
75th Percentile$95,990$56,910+$39,080
90th Percentile$112,150$61,780+$50,370
Mean (Average)$78,770$48,860+$29,910

Employment Numbers

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

305,020

employed nationwide

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$100,260
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,030
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$95,650
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$95,190
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$89,730

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators or Dental Assistants?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $29,490 (62.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salaries range from $47,810 (10th percentile) to $112,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $76,790.
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.
How many Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators and Dental Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 305,020 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators positions and 375,430 Dental Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Dental Assistants to Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators has a median salary of $76,790 while Dental Assistants earns $47,300. 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