Dental Assistants vs Insurance Underwriters: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn $32,580 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 68.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $138,020 for Insurance Underwriters.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Insurance Underwriters$51,640 – $138,020
$36,190$138,020
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Insurance Underwriters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $51,640 | $-15,450 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $63,070 | $-23,550 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $79,880 | $-32,580 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $104,820 | $-47,910 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $138,020 | $-76,240 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $90,830 | $-41,970 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Insurance Underwriters
107,820
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 Insurance Underwriters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $106,380 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $103,270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $98,860 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $98,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $32,580 (68.9% 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 Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters salaries range from $51,640 (10th percentile) to $138,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $79,880.
How many Dental Assistants and Insurance Underwriters jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 107,820 Insurance Underwriters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Insurance Underwriters to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Insurance Underwriters earns $79,880. 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