SalaryByCity

Dental Assistants vs Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists: 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

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

$76,950

Median annual salary

861,140 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists professionals earn $29,650 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 62.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $144,610 for Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists.

Salary Range Comparison

Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$42,070 – $144,610
$36,190$144,610

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileDental AssistantsMarket Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsDifference
10th Percentile$36,190$42,070$-5,880
25th Percentile$39,520$56,220$-16,700
Median (50th)$47,300$76,950$-29,650
75th Percentile$56,910$104,870$-47,960
90th Percentile$61,780$144,610$-82,830
Mean (Average)$48,860$86,480$-37,620

Employment Numbers

Dental Assistants

375,430

employed nationwide

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

861,140

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 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$139,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$124,840
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$102,390
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$97,360
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$95,930

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists?
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $29,650 (62.7% 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 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists?
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salaries range from $42,070 (10th percentile) to $144,610 (90th percentile), with a median of $76,950.
How many Dental Assistants and Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 861,140 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists earns $76,950. 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