Dental Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?
Dental Assistants out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aides by $12K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Dental Assistants land at $48,070 and Home Health and Personal Care Aides at $35,800. The education gap is real: dental assistant programs typically require postsecondary nondegree award, while home health and personal care aide programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Dental Assistants is Minnesota ($65,270); for Home Health and Personal Care Aides it's Washington ($47,730).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Dental Assistants median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Dental Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Dental Assistants earn more nationally. The median is $48,070 for Dental Assistants versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides, a difference of $12K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Dental Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides has the better 10-year outlook at 17% projected growth, compared to 6.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Dental Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Dental Assistants typically requires postsecondary nondegree award. Home Health and Personal Care Aides requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Dental Assistants get paid the most?
Minnesota is the top-paying state for Dental Assistants at $65,270/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Dental Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Dental Assistants earn $65,270 vs. $38,370 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.