Dental Assistant salary in California
Dental Assistants in California earn a median of $23.51 per hour, about $48,910 a year, 3% above the U.S. median of $22.74. The middle half earn between $21.94 and $28.83 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $31.06 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $23.51median pay per hour
- $48,910median pay per year
- 54,580dental assistants employed in California
- #13of 50 states by median pay
Dental Assistant pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.64 | $38,770 | $17.40 |
| Lower quartile | $21.94 | $45,640 | $19.00 |
| Median | $23.51 | $48,910 | $22.74 |
| Upper quartile | $28.83 | $59,970 | $27.36 |
| Top 10% | $34.64 | $72,050 | $29.70 |
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $31.06 | $64,600 | 2,840 | 32% above | $28.13 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.14 | $62,700 | 7,100 | 28% above | $26.07 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $30.11 | $62,620 | 680 | 28% above | $27.94 |
| Vallejo, CA | $28.95 | $60,220 | 550 | 23% above | $26.69 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $28.50 | $59,270 | 3,450 | 21% above | $26.72 |
| Napa, CA | $28.22 | $58,690 | 180 | 20% above | $25.07 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $26.64 | $55,410 | 930 | 13% above | $24.10 |
| El Centro, CA | $25.97 | $54,010 | 120 | 10% above | — |
| Salinas, CA | $24.97 | $51,940 | 510 | 6% above | $22.90 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $24.26 | $50,450 | 390 | 3% above | $22.34 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $24.06 | $50,050 | 410 | 2% above | $21.89 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $23.83 | $49,570 | 590 | 1% above | $21.90 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $23.60 | $49,090 | 200 | in line with | $23.23 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $23.57 | $49,030 | 6,210 | in line with | $22.14 |
| Modesto, CA | $23.39 | $48,650 | 860 | 1% below | $22.47 |
| Yuba City, CA | $23.37 | $48,610 | 250 | 1% below | $22.42 |
| Chico, CA | $23.12 | $48,090 | 250 | 2% below | $22.85 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $23.08 | $48,000 | 810 | 2% below | $21.96 |
| Visalia, CA | $23.04 | $47,930 | 440 | 2% below | $23.08 |
| Merced, CA | $22.80 | $47,420 | 180 | 3% below | $23.20 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $22.76 | $47,330 | 960 | 3% below | $22.56 |
| Redding, CA | $22.54 | $46,880 | 200 | 4% below | $22.39 |
| Fresno, CA | $22.47 | $46,730 | 1,450 | 4% below | $22.00 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $22.32 | $46,420 | 4,230 | 5% below | $19.95 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $22.29 | $46,360 | 19,300 | 5% below | $19.63 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Dental Assistant pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 86roles with published pay
- $24median pay per hour
- $19–$29typical published range
- 5employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| PDS Health | 54 | $23 |
| Smile Brands | 20 | $24.75 |
| Aspen Dental | 9 | $27.25 |
| ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers | 2 | $28.75 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 1 | $26.26 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 86 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Dental Assistant jobs in California · Dental Assistant salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a dental assistant make in California?
The median is $23.51 per hour, about $48,910 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $18.64 and the top 10% earn over $34.64 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays dental assistants the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $31.06 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for dental assistant pay?
California ranks 13th of 50 states by median dental assistant pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you 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.
Your Dental Assistant pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.