SalaryByCity

Dental Assistants vs Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary: Salary Comparison (2024)

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

Dental Assistants

$47,300

Median annual salary

375,430 employed nationally

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

$104,070

Median annual salary

319,630 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary professionals earn $56,770 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 120.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $165,820 for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$72,400 – $165,820
$36,190$165,820

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental AssistantsEducation Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryDifference
10th Percentile$36,190$72,400$-36,210
25th Percentile$39,520$83,840$-44,320
Median (50th)$47,300$104,070$-56,770
75th Percentile$56,910$132,550$-75,640
90th Percentile$61,780$165,820$-104,040
Mean (Average)$48,860$113,360$-64,500

Employment Numbers

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

319,630

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

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

Best Cities for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary

CityMedian
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$170,150
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$164,500
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$160,750
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$157,210
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$156,670

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary?
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $56,770 (120.0% 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 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary?
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salaries range from $72,400 (10th percentile) to $165,820 (90th percentile), with a median of $104,070.
How many Dental Assistants and Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 319,630 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earns $104,070. 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