Dental Assistants vs General and Operations Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn $55,650 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 117.7% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
$36,190$61,780
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | General and Operations Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $47,420 | $-11,230 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $67,160 | $-27,640 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $102,950 | $-55,650 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $164,130 | $-107,220 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $133,120 | $-84,260 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
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 General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $55,650 (117.7% 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 General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
How many Dental Assistants and General and Operations Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from General and Operations Managers to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while General and Operations Managers earns $102,950. 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