Dental Assisting at Carrington College-San Jose

Starting salaries of $28,060/yr fall 23% below the $36,429 national median for Dental Assisting. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Some AI exposure exists in Dental Assisting's career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 23% gap from the optimistic case.

At $8,975 in median debt against $28,060 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #267 of 513 Dental Assisting programs, Carrington College-San Jose falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $28,060 to $36,206 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Dental Assisting, including Dental Assistant (Alternate Title: Dental Specialist) (median $47,300/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.