PermanentPosted today
Experienced Registered Dental Assistant
PDS Health · La Mesa, CA
$22.25–$31.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Merced, CA
Pay for dental assistants in the Merced area centers on $22.80 per hour, or about $47,420 a year. The lower quarter earns under $22.34 and the upper quarter over $27.12. That ranks 124th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 163rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Merced.
- $22.80median pay per hour, Merced
- $22–$27typical range per hour
- 180dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Merced, CA
The metro median is 3% below the California statewide median of $23.51 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 180 dental assistants employed in the Merced metro area, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.93).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.50 | $36,400 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.34 | $46,470 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.80 | $47,420 | in line with U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.12 | $56,410 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $29.02 | $60,360 | 28% above U.S. median |
How Merced ranks
- 124th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 163rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 19th of 24 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Merced
- Overall prices in Merced run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.80 median hour buys what $23.20 buys at the national price level, 2% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Merced Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Merced, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Merced paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$821
- Per year: $41,040
- Per month: $3,420
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Merced metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Merced as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Elk Grove, CA
$21.00–$29.25/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in California
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · El Dorado Hills, CA
$21.00–$29.25/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · San Diego, CA
$19.25–$26.75/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Brea, CA
$19.25–$26.75/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · La Mesa, CA
$19.25–$26.75/ hour
New this week
Dental health shortage areas in Merced County
HRSA lists 6 active dental health shortage designations that include Merced County (1 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dental Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock, CA | 25 mi | $23.39/hr | 72,888 |
| Madera, CA | 32 mi | $22.47/hr | 69,094 |
| Modesto, CA | 37 mi | $23.39/hr | 220,592 |
| Fresno, CA | 52 mi | $22.47/hr | 550,105 |
| Manteca, CA | 53 mi | $23.08/hr | 94,292 |
| Clovis, CA | 55 mi | $22.47/hr | 127,993 |
Dental Assistant jobs in California · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Merced
Merced city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Merced, CA?
Dental Assistants in the Merced metro area have a median pay of $22.80 per hour, about $47,420 a year. The middle half earn between $22.34 and $27.12 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Merced a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Merced ranks 163rd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 124th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a California license to work in Merced as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Merced in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 6 active dental health shortage designations that include Merced County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental assistants in Merced?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Merced and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Merced.
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What do employers near Merced pay dental assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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230+ Dental Assistant roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportMerced, CA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- ClearChoice Dental Implant CentersFresno, CA · 2 postings$28.75/ hr$27–$30
- Aspen DentalCitrus Heights, CA · 9 postings$27.25/ hr$18–$40
- Smile BrandsMission Viejo, CA · 20 postings$24.75/ hr$19–$32
- PDS HealthLa Mesa, CA · 54 postings$23.00/ hr$17–$36
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$24.00High$29
86 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in California, 67 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 86 Dental Assistant roles
- Experienced Registered Dental AssistantPermanent$22.25–$31.00/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$21.00–$29.25/ hour
+ 84 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.