Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Central Oregon Community College
OR · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.06
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree from Central Oregon Community College earn a median salary of $39,294 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $34,378. The degree typically pays for itself in 45.3 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$30,273
Typical Career
$39,294
Top Performers
$49,269
Estimated break-even: 45.3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$262
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,275. Most students can comfortably afford about a $262 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Manufacturing.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$34,378
Nominal: $39,294 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $26,726 | $34,840 | $40,108 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $30,273 | $39,294 | $49,269 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $33,005 | $43,047 | $59,105 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $39,294 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $39,294 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430)
= $34,378 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 53.4% in the field, followed by 29.2% and 27.4% in similar roles. This concentration suggests a stable job market within these industries. However, the estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 45.3 years, which may raise concerns regarding the return on investment for students. Overall, while the program offers a pathway into a growing field, the long-term financial benefits may require careful consideration.
Compare with Another School
See how the Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree at Central Oregon Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Central Oregon Community College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Central Oregon Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.