Dental Assistants vs Transit and Railroad Police: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Transit and Railroad Police professionals earn $35,020 more per year than Dental Assistants professionals — that's 74.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Dental Assistants earns $61,780 compared to $141,870 for Transit and Railroad Police.
Salary Range Comparison
Dental Assistants$36,190 – $61,780
Transit and Railroad Police$58,370 – $141,870
$36,190$141,870
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Dental Assistants | Transit and Railroad Police | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,190 | $58,370 | $-22,180 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,520 | $65,920 | $-26,400 |
| Median (50th) | $47,300 | $82,320 | $-35,020 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,910 | $114,040 | $-57,130 |
| 90th Percentile | $61,780 | $141,870 | $-80,090 |
| Mean (Average) | $48,860 | $91,820 | $-42,960 |
Employment Numbers
Dental Assistants
375,430
employed nationwide
Transit and Railroad Police
3,000
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 Transit and Railroad Police
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $108,490 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $91,930 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $89,220 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $86,650 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Dental Assistants or Transit and Railroad Police?
Transit and Railroad Police professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $35,020 (74.0% 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 Transit and Railroad Police?
Transit and Railroad Police salaries range from $58,370 (10th percentile) to $141,870 (90th percentile), with a median of $82,320.
How many Dental Assistants and Transit and Railroad Police jobs are there?
There are approximately 375,430 Dental Assistants positions and 3,000 Transit and Railroad Police positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Transit and Railroad Police to Dental Assistants?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Dental Assistants has a median salary of $47,300 while Transit and Railroad Police earns $82,320. 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