National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Dentists earn a national median of $175,500/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Dentists earn 66% more nationally. The gap is $116,300 per year — or $9,692 per month.
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Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$116,300
Dentists earn 66% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,318,295.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Dentists
Mississippi+$-96,120
Arkansas+$-98,120
Oklahoma+$-100,120
New Mexico+$-102,120
West Virginia+$-102,120
Best states for Dentists
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$136,120
Hawaii+$130,120
Connecticut+$124,120
California+$122,120
Massachusetts+$122,120
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Dentists is $175,500 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $116,300 per year or $9,692 per month.
The national median salary gap between Dentists and Paralegals is $116,300 per year. Dentists earn 66% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,318,295.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dentists the highest median salary at $198,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 per year.
Salary is one factor — Dentists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Dentists, General and Paralegals and Legal Assistants both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Dentists earn approximately $84 per hour nationally and Paralegals earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
