Jobs Similar to Dental Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to dental assistants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Medical Assistants, Dental Hygienists and Hearing Aid Specialists.
Dental Assistants: $48,070 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Dental Assistants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical AssistantsSame group | 79% | $45,690−5% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Dental Hygienists | 79% | $98,100+104% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Hearing Aid Specialists | 78% | $65,160+36% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 78% | $45,570−5% | Training or associate |
| 5 | PhlebotomistsSame group | 78% | $45,230−6% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 77% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersSame group | 77% | $38,150−21% | High school |
| 8 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 76% | $64,400+34% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Pharmacy Technicians | 75% | $45,750−5% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Prosthodontists | 75% | $311,180+547% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Registered Nurses | 75% | $97,550+103% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 75% | $47,380−1% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Physical Therapist Aides | 75% | $35,240−27% | High school |
| 14 | Nursing Assistants | 75% | $42,260−12% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Respiratory Therapists | 74% | $82,280+71% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 74% | $68,380+42% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 73% | $74,310+55% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Dentists, General | 73% | $170,950+256% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 73% | $96,590+101% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Radiologists | 73% | $420,860+776% | Graduate degree |
- 1Medical Assistants
79% similar · $45,690 (−5%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Dental Hygienists
79% similar · $98,100 (+104%) · Training or associate
- 3Hearing Aid Specialists
78% similar · $65,160 (+36%) · Training or associate
- 4Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
78% similar · $45,570 (−5%) · Training or associate
- 5Phlebotomists
78% similar · $45,230 (−6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
77% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 7Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
77% similar · $38,150 (−21%) · High school · Same group
- 8Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
76% similar · $64,400 (+34%) · Training or associate
- 9Pharmacy Technicians
75% similar · $45,750 (−5%) · Training or associate
- 10Prosthodontists
75% similar · $311,180 (+547%) · Graduate degree
- 11Registered Nurses
75% similar · $97,550 (+103%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
75% similar · $47,380 (−1%) · Training or associate
- 13Physical Therapist Aides
75% similar · $35,240 (−27%) · High school
- 14Nursing Assistants
75% similar · $42,260 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 15Respiratory Therapists
74% similar · $82,280 (+71%) · Training or associate
- 16Physical Therapist Assistants
74% similar · $68,380 (+42%) · Training or associate
- 17Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
73% similar · $74,310 (+55%) · Training or associate
- 18Dentists, General
73% similar · $170,950 (+256%) · Graduate degree
- 19Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
73% similar · $96,590 (+101%) · Training or associate
- 20Radiologists
73% similar · $420,860 (+776%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than dental assistants.
- Dental Hygienists79% similar · $98,100 (+104%)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers73% similar · $96,590 (+101%)
- Respiratory Therapists74% similar · $82,280 (+71%)
- Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians73% similar · $74,310 (+55%)
- Physical Therapist Assistants74% similar · $68,380 (+42%)
- Hearing Aid Specialists78% similar · $65,160 (+36%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for dental assistants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where dental assistants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (82)
- Hearing Aid Specialists (79)
- Pharmacy Technicians (79)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (77)
- Opticians, Dispensing (77)
- Nursing Assistants (75)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (75)
- Neurodiagnostic Technologists (73)
- Skincare Specialists (73)
- Occupational Therapy Aides (72)
Questions about jobs like dental assistants
What jobs are most similar to dental assistants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Medical Assistants (79% similar), Dental Hygienists (79% similar), Hearing Aid Specialists (78% similar), Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (78% similar) and Phlebotomists (78% similar).
Which jobs like dental assistants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +776%; usually a graduate degree), Prosthodontists ($311,180, +547%; usually a graduate degree) and Dentists (General) ($170,950, +256%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with dental assistants ($48,070). Without more preparation than dental assistants usually need: Dental Hygienists, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and Respiratory Therapists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.