PermanentPosted 4 days ago
Dental Assistant
Smile Brands · San Jose, CA
$21.00–$25.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in San Jose, CA
Pay for dental assistants in the San Jose area centers on $31.06 per hour, or about $64,600 a year. The lower quarter earns under $28.04 and the upper quarter over $37.70. That ranks 2nd of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 8th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for San Jose. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near San Jose.
- $31.06median pay per hour, San Jose
- $28–$38typical range per hour
- 2,840dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in San Jose
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65+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in San Jose, CA
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More open Dental Assistant roles in San Jose
1 more open role from employers in San Jose. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Registered Dental Assistant
PDS Health · San Jose, CA
Pay range with your report
New this week
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Named employers near San Jose, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in San Jose, CA
The metro median is 32% above the California statewide median of $23.51 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 2,840 dental assistants employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.03).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $24.20 | $50,340 | 6% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $28.04 | $58,320 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Median | $31.06 | $64,600 | 37% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $37.70 | $78,420 | 66% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.93 | $103,850 | 120% above U.S. median |
How San Jose ranks
- 2nd of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 8th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st 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 San Jose
- Overall prices in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara run 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 112% above the U.S. average (index 211.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $31.06 median hour buys what $28.13 buys at the national price level, 24% 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 San Jose paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,118
- Per year: $55,908
- Per month: $4,659
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Santa Clara County
HRSA lists 13 active dental health shortage designations that include Santa Clara County (13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | 10 mi | $31.06/hr | 133,132 |
| Milpitas, CA | 10 mi | $31.06/hr | 79,746 |
| Fremont, CA | 15 mi | $30.14/hr | 228,192 |
| Union City, CA | 24 mi | $30.14/hr | 66,196 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 25 mi | $24.06/hr | 62,581 |
| Watsonville, CA | 26 mi | $24.06/hr | 51,320 |
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 San Jose
San Jose city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in San Jose, CA?
Dental Assistants in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area have a median pay of $31.06 per hour, about $64,600 a year. The middle half earn between $28.04 and $37.70 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is San Jose a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks 8th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 2nd of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in San Jose?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in San Jose. Your free report adds named employers and pay near San Jose.
Do I need a California license to work in San Jose 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 San Jose in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 13 active dental health shortage designations that include Santa Clara 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 San Jose?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Jose and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Jose.
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What do employers near San Jose 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 reportSan Jose, 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.