Dental Hygienist salary in California
Dental Hygienists in California earn a median of $58.21 per hour, about $121,080 a year, 28% above the U.S. median of $45.32. The middle half earn between $51.19 and $62.44 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $64.91 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $58.21median pay per hour
- $121,080median pay per year
- 22,940dental hygienists employed in California
- #4of 50 states by median pay
Dental Hygienist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $27.08 | $56,330 | $31.96 |
| Lower quartile | $51.19 | $106,480 | $38.49 |
| Median | $58.21 | $121,080 | $45.32 |
| Upper quartile | $62.44 | $129,880 | $49.48 |
| Top 10% | $66.09 | $137,470 | $57.72 |
Dental Hygienist 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 | $64.91 | $135,010 | 1,560 | 12% above | $58.78 |
| Vallejo, CA | $64.64 | $134,450 | 190 | 11% above | $59.59 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63.47 | $132,010 | 280 | 9% above | $58.34 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $63.27 | $131,610 | 320 | 9% above | $58.70 |
| Napa, CA | $61.46 | $127,840 | 100 | 6% above | $54.60 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $61.11 | $127,120 | 170 | 5% above | $55.61 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59.88 | $124,550 | 350 | 3% above | $56.98 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58.90 | $122,520 | 570 | 1% above | $53.29 |
| Salinas, CA | $58.68 | $122,050 | 170 | 1% above | $53.81 |
| Yuba City, CA | $58.50 | $121,670 | 70 | in line with | $56.12 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58.32 | $121,310 | 2,180 | in line with | $54.67 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $58.22 | $121,100 | 220 | in line with | $53.61 |
| Modesto, CA | $58.18 | $121,010 | 210 | in line with | $55.88 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $57.84 | $120,300 | 2,000 | 1% below | $51.70 |
| Chico, CA | $57.21 | $118,990 | 110 | 2% below | $56.53 |
| El Centro, CA | $52.46 | $109,120 | 40 | 10% below | — |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52.42 | $109,040 | 1,420 | 10% below | $49.25 |
| Redding, CA | $51.42 | $106,960 | 100 | 12% below | $51.07 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51.19 | $106,480 | 8,100 | 12% below | $45.08 |
| Fresno, CA | $49.67 | $103,310 | 400 | 15% below | $48.62 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49.20 | $102,330 | 60 | 15% below | $48.42 |
| Visalia, CA | $47.16 | $98,100 | 150 | 19% below | $47.24 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $45.92 | $95,510 | 350 | 21% below | $45.52 |
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 Hygienist pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 49roles with published pay
- $57.50median pay per hour
- $47–$70typical published range
- 3employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| PDS Health | 35 | $59.50 |
| Smile Brands | 13 | $57.50 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 1 | $45.41 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 49 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Dental Hygienist jobs in California · Dental Hygienist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in California?
The median is $58.21 per hour, about $121,080 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $27.08 and the top 10% earn over $66.09 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays dental hygienists the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $64.91 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for dental hygienist pay?
California ranks 4th of 50 states by median dental hygienist 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 hygienists? Get the report.
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- 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.
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Your Hygienist pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.