SalaryByCity

Dental Assistants vs Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare: 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 and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

$56,270

Median annual salary

71,620 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare professionals earn $8,970 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 19.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $96,400 for Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$37,060 – $96,400
$36,190$96,400

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental AssistantsEducation and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareDifference
10th Percentile$36,190$37,060$-870
25th Percentile$39,520$45,310$-5,790
Median (50th)$47,300$56,270$-8,970
75th Percentile$56,910$72,690$-15,780
90th Percentile$61,780$96,400$-34,620
Mean (Average)$48,860$62,640$-13,780

Employment Numbers

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

71,620

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 and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$79,000
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$77,390
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$64,180
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$62,530
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$61,880

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $8,970 (19.0% 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 and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare?
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare salaries range from $37,060 (10th percentile) to $96,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $56,270.
How many Dental Assistants and Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 71,620 Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare earns $56,270. 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