PermanentPosted today
Temporary Registered Dental Hygienist
PDS Health · Bellflower, CA
$54.00–$75.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Dental Hygienist jobs in Watsonville, CA
Pay for dental hygienists in the Watsonville area centers on $61.11 per hour, or about $127,120 a year. The lower quarter earns under $60.94 and the upper quarter over $61.21. That ranks 9th of 369 U.S. metro areas for dental hygienist pay, and 14th of 332 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Watsonville and what they pay.
- $61.11median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $61–$61typical range per hour
- 170dental hygienists employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Hygienist pay in Watsonville, CA
The metro median is 5% above the California statewide median of $58.21 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.32 per hour. BLS counts about 170 dental hygienists employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 1.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.22).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $59.50 | $123,760 | 31% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $60.94 | $126,760 | 34% above U.S. median |
| Median | $61.11 | $127,120 | 35% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $61.21 | $127,320 | 35% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $61.81 | $128,560 | 36% above U.S. median |
How Watsonville ranks
- 9th of 369 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 14th of 332 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 22 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Hygienists (SOC 29-1292), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Watsonville
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $61.11 median hour buys what $55.61 buys at the national price level, 23% 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 Watsonville Dental Hygienist pay report
Named employers near Watsonville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Watsonville paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,200
- Per year: $109,998
- Per month: $9,166
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Hygienist roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Watsonville as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Registered Dental Hygienist
PDS Health · Yucaipa, CA
$47.00–$65.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Dental Hygienist roles for you in California
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PermanentPosted today
Registered Dental Hygienist
PDS Health · Highland, CA
$47.00–$65.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Dental Hygienist
PDS Health · Cerritos, CA
$54.00–$75.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Dental Hygienist
PDS Health · Bakersfield, CA
$50.00–$70.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Registered Dental Hygienist
PDS Health · Reseda, CA
$50.00–$70.00/ hour
New this week
Dental health shortage areas in Santa Cruz County
HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County (3 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 Hygienist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilroy, CA | 12 mi | $64.91/hr | 60,390 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 15 mi | $61.11/hr | 62,581 |
| Salinas, CA | 18 mi | $58.68/hr | 160,783 |
| San Jose, CA | 26 mi | $64.91/hr | 997,368 |
| Cupertino, CA | 31 mi | $64.91/hr | 58,710 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 32 mi | $64.91/hr | 133,132 |
Dental Hygienist jobs in California · Dental Hygienist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
Active dental hygiene license in the state of the job. 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 Watsonville
Watsonville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Watsonville, CA?
Dental Hygienists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $61.11 per hour, about $127,120 a year. The middle half earn between $60.94 and $61.21 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Watsonville a good place for dental hygienists once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 14th of 332 metro areas for dental hygienist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 9th of 369 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Do I need a California license to work in Watsonville as a dental hygienist?
Active dental hygiene license in the state of the job. 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 Watsonville in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental hygienists in Watsonville?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Watsonville and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Watsonville.
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What do employers near Watsonville pay dental hygienists? 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 Hygienist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Hygienist pay reportWatsonville, CA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- PDS HealthBellflower, CA · 35 postings$59.50/ hr$24–$85
- Smile BrandsRoseville, CA · 13 postings$57.50/ hr$50–$70
- Bae & Jang Dds IncBarstow, CA · 1 wage offer$50.80/ hr$51–$51
- Western Dental Services, Inc.Claremont, CA · 1 wage offer$45.00/ hr$45–$45
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$46Median$57.50High$72
49 Hygienist postings with published pay in California, 43 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 49 Hygienist roles
- Temporary Registered Dental HygienistPermanent$54.00–$75.00/ hour
- Registered Dental HygienistPermanent$47.00–$65.00/ hour
+ 47 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.