PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dentist – DDS / DMD
Aspen Dental · Lompoc, CA
$300k–$450k/ year
Top 25% pay
Dentist jobs in Santa Clara, CA
Dentists in the Santa Clara area earn a median of $87.13 per hour, about $181,230 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $57.69 and $103.24. That ranks 100th of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 203rd of 279 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Santa Clara and what they pay.
- $87.13median pay per hour, San Jose
- $58–$103typical range per hour
- 1,480dentists employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dentist pay in Santa Clara, CA
The metro median is 2% above the California statewide median of $85.84 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 1,480 dentists, general employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.77).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $53.16 | $110,570 | 36% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $57.69 | $120,000 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Median | $87.13 | $181,230 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $103.24 | $214,740 | 24% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 38% above U.S. median |
How Santa Clara ranks
- 100th of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 203rd of 279 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th of 23 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Santa Clara
- 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 $87.13 median hour buys what $78.91 buys at the national price level, 5% below 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 Santa Clara Dentist pay report
Named employers near Santa Clara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Clara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$3,137
- Per year: $156,834
- Per month: $13,070
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.
Open Dentist roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Clara as they open.
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dentist – DDS / DMD
Aspen Dental · Santa Maria, CA
$300k–$450k/ year
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Dentist roles for you in California
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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.
Dentist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 4 mi | $87.13/hr | 156,792 |
| Cupertino, CA | 5 mi | $87.13/hr | 58,710 |
| Fremont, CA | 9 mi | $98.74/hr | 228,192 |
| Union City, CA | 17 mi | $98.74/hr | 66,196 |
| Redwood City, CA | 17 mi | $98.74/hr | 82,982 |
| Hayward, CA | 20 mi | $98.74/hr | 158,440 |
License and tax basics in California
Active dental 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 Santa Clara
Santa Clara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dentists make in Santa Clara, CA?
Dentists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area have a median pay of $87.13 per hour, about $181,230 a year. The middle half earn between $57.69 and $103.24 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Clara a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ranks 203rd of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 100th of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Clara as a dentist?
Active dental 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 Santa Clara 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 dentists in Santa Clara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Clara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Clara.
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What do employers near Santa Clara pay dentists? 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+ Dentist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dentist pay reportSanta Clara, CA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalSanta Maria, CA · 2 postings$180.29/ hr$144–$216
- Dalla Gill Dental Inc.Woodland, CA · 3 wage offers$120.00/ hr$110–$120
- Azad Professional Dental CorporationBakersfield, CA · 3 wage offers$112.00/ hr$85–$125
- Camarena HealthMadera, CA · 6 wage offers$90.14/ hr$82–$110
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$80Median$91.35High$106
199 employer-reported wage offers for Dentist in federal filings in California, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 Dentist roles
- Dentist – DDS / DMDPermanent$300k–$450k/ year
- Dentist – DDS / DMDPermanent$300k–$450k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.