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Up to 3 careers or trades side by side, on the numbers that decide between them.
Scroll the table sideways to reach every pathway.
| Pathway | Dental Assistant Career | Sterile Processing Technician Career |
|---|---|---|
| Salary range | $40K–$60K+ (planning range) | $35K–$60K+ (planning range) |
| Median salary | None (a planning range has no median) | None (a planning range has no median) |
| Pay basis | Planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide, 2026 | Planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide, 2026 |
| Time to qualify | 9–12 months | 3–12 months |
| Training | Certificate / state-specific requirements, 9–12 months | Certificate often preferred/required by employer, 3–12 months |
| Pathway | Dental & Laboratory (Medical Skilled Trades) | Surgical & Hospital Support (Medical Skilled Trades) |
| Patient contact | High | Low |
| Education | Certificate | Certificate |
| College required | No | No |
| Apprenticeship route | No | No |
| Credentials | CDA - Certified Dental Assistant (Dental Assisting National Board), made up of the RHS, ICE and GC exams | CRCST - Certified Registered Central Service Technician (Healthcare Sterile Processing Association), CSPDT - Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution) |
| Outlook | Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. | Employment of medical equipment preparers is projected to grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. |
| Where you work | Offices of dentists, Offices of physicians, Government | Hospitals (central sterile / sterile processing departments), Other health care facilities with sterile processing departments |
| Overtime common | — | — |
| Path to ownership | — | — |
| Next step |
Medical Skilled Trades careers show a planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide (2026), not wage data, unless BLS wage data has been loaded; the Pay basis row names the source and year, and outlook figures are cited on each career page.