Benefits of being an associate - you basically have your job that is more or less confined to things that you do in the office is peoples mouths. How much autonomy you have is variable based on the philosophy of the owner of the practice(s) your working in. You get paid whatever your negotiated payment method is (salary, % production, % collection, etc). When you finish up your last patient of the day and have your chart notes made, you go home
Benefits of being an owner - not only is your job confined to what you do in peoples mouths, but you also have to handle, and have the autonomy of running a business. Sometimes that easier (I.e. I want to try a new material oor buy a new piece of equipment) and sometimes that's more difficult (your whole staff both wants a raise and has no clue what their new health insurance under the ACA means for them and are all asking you, etc). As an owner, you will more than likely, but not guaranteed in all instances, to make more money than you would as an associate
Exact salary numbers are frankly pointless, since depending on the type and location of any given practice you can see a HUGE variability in what those numbers are and what they actually mean for your own personal finances
