Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Trident Technical College
SC · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.06
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree from Trident Technical College earn a median salary of $62,139 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $65,272. The degree typically pays for itself in 7.3 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
$49,328
Typical Career
$62,139
Top Performers
$72,322
Estimated break-even: 7.3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$414
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,178. Most students can comfortably afford about a $414 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 South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Retail Trade.
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
$65,272
Nominal: $62,139 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% higher 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 | $44,644 | $56,276 | $65,986 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $49,328 | $62,139 | $72,322 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $45,433 | $60,442 | $71,823 |
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 $62,139 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $62,139 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $65,272 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates find employment in the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 69.5% entering this field immediately after graduation. This trend continues, as 36.3% and 27.0% remain in similar roles five and ten years post-graduation, respectively. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 40.9 years, suggesting that while the return on investment may take time, the stability and growth potential within the health care industry provide a solid rationale for pursuing this career path.
Compare with Another School
See how the Dental Support Services and Allied Professions degree at Trident Technical College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Dental Support Services and Allied Professions at Trident Technical College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Trident Technical 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.