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The differences between dental assistants and surgical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a surgical assistant has an average salary of $52,170, which is higher than the $37,730 average annual salary of a dental assistant.
The top three skills for a dental assistant include patients, patient care and CPR. The most important skills for a surgical assistant are patients, surgical procedures, and patient care.
| Dental Assistant | Surgical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $37,730 | $52,170 |
| Hourly rate | $18.14 | $25.08 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 69,835 | 28,138 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Dental assistants provide patient care, have the ability to take x-rays, blood pressure readings, and help dentists perform treatments and procedures. They also keep patients' dental records, schedule appointments, prepare and maintain materials and equipment. They may conduct tests that are not much complicated and would not require the supervision of a dentist or dental surgeon. They also may administer and dispense medications to patients under the doctor's orders. Most dental assistants work in dentists' offices as full time in dental practice, but they can specialize and get employment in orthodontic or periodontist offices and other practices.
A Surgical Assistant provides assistance during an operation by performing a wide range of crucial tasks. They cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field and adjust and maintain operating room parameters according to the surgeon's specifications.
Dental assistants and surgical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Assistant | Surgical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $37,730 | $52,170 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $35,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Alameda Health System | Baptist Health Care |
| Best paying industry | Government | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a dental assistant and a surgical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Dental Assistant | Surgical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dental assistants' and surgical assistants' demographics:
| Dental Assistant | Surgical Assistant | |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.5% Female, 88.5% | Male, 20.7% Female, 79.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 52.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 10% |