Dental Assistants vs Food Service Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Food Service Managers professionals earn $18,010 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 38.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $105,420 for Food Service Managers.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Food Service Managers$42,380 – $105,420
$36,190$105,420
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Food Service Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $42,380 | $-6,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $53,090 | $-13,570 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $65,310 | $-18,010 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $82,300 | $-25,390 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $105,420 | $-43,640 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $72,370 | $-23,510 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Food Service Managers
244,230
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 Food Service Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $95,540 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $86,840 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $84,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $82,570 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $82,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Food Service Managers?
Food Service Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $18,010 (38.1% 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 Food Service Managers?
Food Service Managers salaries range from $42,380 (10th percentile) to $105,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,310.
How many Dental Assistants and Food Service Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 244,230 Food Service Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Food Service Managers to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Food Service Managers earns $65,310. 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