Takeover Tracker
23%low risk
Surgical Technologists
vs

59 shared · 16 different

core competencies

24%low risk
Dental Assistants

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSurgical TechnologistsDental Assistants
Risk Score22.6%24.2%
Risk TierLow RiskLow Risk
Risk Percentile12th17th
Tasks at Risk (>50%)4 / 154 / 15
Median Salary$62,830$47,300
Employment114K375K

Skill Comparison

|

Sorted by largest difference

Interacting With Computers
Coaching and Developing Others
Training and Teaching Others
Perceptual Speed
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
Flexibility of Closure
Documenting/Recording Information
Handling and Moving Objects
English Language
Selective Attention

Protective Factors

Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement

Surgical Technologists

32%

total discount

Dental Assistants

34%

total discount

Task Risk Comparison

Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable

Surgical Technologists

4 of 15 at risk
86%Order surgical supplies.
84%Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
78%Schedule surgical procedures for patients.
51%Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.
49%Wash and sterilize equipment, using germicides and sterilizers.

Dental Assistants

4 of 15 at risk
86%Record treatment information in patient records.
86%Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
82%Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
65%Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
49%Pour, trim, and polish study casts.

Wage Comparison

Dental Assistants earns -$15,530(-25%) vs Surgical Technologists
Surgical TechnologistsDental Assistants
10th
$43,290$36,190
25th
$51,740$39,520
Median
$62,830$47,300
75th
$77,140$56,910
90th
$90,700$61,780

Premium Head-to-Head Analysis

Displacement Timeline Comparison

Surgical Technologists2028–2035
Dental Assistants2028–2035
20242030203520402045

Surgical Technologists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Dental Assistants.

Risk-Adjusted Salary

Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)

Surgical Technologists

$48,649

from $62,830

Dental Assistants

$35,839

from $47,300

After adjusting for AI risk, Surgical Technologists offers $12,810 more in risk-adjusted pay.

Transition Feasibility

1%

Skill Overlap

Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition

0

Unique to Surgical

0

Unique to Dental

Combined Protection Strategy

Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors

Fine Manipulation
Regulatory Barriers
Social Intelligence
Decision Complexity
Surgical TechnologistsDental Assistants
Find transitions from Surgical TechnologistsFind transitions from Dental Assistants