Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Colorado Northwestern Community College
CO · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.06
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree from Colorado Northwestern Community College earn a median salary of $63,292 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $60,221. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.1 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
$47,119
Typical Career
$63,292
Top Performers
$79,718
Estimated break-even: 6.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$422
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,274. Most students can comfortably afford about a $422 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.
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
$60,221
Nominal: $63,292 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% 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 | $48,870 | $64,868 | $79,493 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $47,119 | $63,292 | $79,718 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $42,709 | $66,665 | $86,995 |
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 $63,292 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $63,292 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510)
= $60,221 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The program primarily prepares students for careers in Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 42.8% of graduate placements, followed by an additional 27.1% in the same sector and 14.8% in Retail Trade. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 6.1 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for those pursuing this educational path. Overall, the program offers a solid foundation for entering a growing field with diverse employment opportunities.
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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.