PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Sacramento, CA
$21.00–$29.25/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Sacramento, CA
Dental Assistants in the Sacramento area earn a median of $28.50 per hour, about $59,270 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $23.66 and $30.20. That ranks 14th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 16th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Sacramento. The free report below lists employers near Sacramento and what they pay.
- $28.50median pay per hour, Sacramento
- $24–$30typical range per hour
- 3,450dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Sacramento
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Sacramento, CA
$25.00–$35.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
90+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Sacramento, CA
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More open Dental Assistant roles in Sacramento
2 more open roles from employers in Sacramento. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted today
Traveling Dental Assistant Oral Surgery
PDS Health · Sacramento, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Registered Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Sacramento, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
Get the Sacramento Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Sacramento, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Sacramento
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| PDS Health | 1 | $25.12 |
| Aspen Dental | 1 | $30 |
Dental Assistant pay in Sacramento, CA
The metro median is 21% above the California statewide median of $23.51 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 3,450 dental assistants employed in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area, 3.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.33).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $20.14 | $41,890 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.66 | $49,210 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Median | $28.50 | $59,270 | 25% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $30.20 | $62,820 | 33% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $37.11 | $77,190 | 63% above U.S. median |
How Sacramento ranks
- 14th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 16th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th 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 Sacramento
- Overall prices in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom run 7% above the U.S. average (index 106.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 30% above the U.S. average (index 130.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $28.50 median hour buys what $26.72 buys at the national price level, 17% 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.
Estimate your Sacramento paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,026
- Per year: $51,300
- Per month: $4,275
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Sacramento County
HRSA lists 8 active dental health shortage designations that include Sacramento County (1 population-group, 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Sacramento, CA | 4 mi | $28.50/hr | 55,991 |
| Elk Grove, CA | 11 mi | $28.50/hr | 182,797 |
| Vacaville, CA | 31 mi | $28.95/hr | 103,994 |
| Lodi, CA | 32 mi | $23.08/hr | 68,642 |
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 Sacramento
Sacramento city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Sacramento, CA?
Dental Assistants in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro area have a median pay of $28.50 per hour, about $59,270 a year. The middle half earn between $23.66 and $30.20 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Sacramento a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom ranks 16th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 14th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Sacramento?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Sacramento. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Sacramento.
Do I need a California license to work in Sacramento 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 Sacramento in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 8 active dental health shortage designations that include Sacramento 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 Sacramento?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Sacramento and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Sacramento.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Sacramento 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.
Get your free pay report
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 reportSacramento, 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.