Dentist salary in California
Dentists in California earn a median of $85.84 per hour, about $178,540 a year, 3% above the U.S. median of $83.07. The middle half earn between $62.50 and $100.64 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Hanford-Corcoran, CA, at $109.95 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $85.84median pay per hour
- $178,540median pay per year
- 14,760dentists employed in California
- #18of 45 states by median pay
Dentist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $46.77 | $97,280 | $40.32 |
| Lower quartile | $62.50 | $130,000 | $60.62 |
| Median | $85.84 | $178,540 | $83.07 |
| Upper quartile | $100.64 | $209,330 | $105.95 |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | $115+ |
Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum.
Dentist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $109.95 | $228,700 | 60 | 28% above | $108.21 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $101.03 | $210,140 | 110 | 18% above | $93.03 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $98.74 | $205,380 | 1,680 | 15% above | $85.41 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $98.23 | $204,320 | 760 | 14% above | $92.09 |
| Visalia, CA | $98.07 | $203,990 | 130 | 14% above | $98.24 |
| Modesto, CA | $96.68 | $201,080 | 150 | 13% above | $92.87 |
| Vallejo, CA | $94.19 | $195,920 | 140 | 10% above | $86.83 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $87.13 | $181,230 | 1,480 | 2% above | $78.91 |
| Yuba City, CA | $85.89 | $178,640 | 40 | in line with | $82.40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85.08 | $176,970 | 1,950 | 1% below | $76.04 |
| Redding, CA | $85.04 | $176,890 | 60 | 1% below | $84.46 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $84.71 | $176,200 | 4,300 | 1% below | $74.59 |
| Salinas, CA | $84.57 | $175,900 | 160 | 1% below | $77.56 |
| Fresno, CA | $83.49 | $173,660 | 370 | 3% below | $81.73 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $83.35 | $173,370 | 150 | 3% below | $77.33 |
| Napa, CA | $82.96 | $172,560 | 50 | 3% below | $73.71 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $81.25 | $169,000 | 540 | 5% below | $73.51 |
| Chico, CA | $80.22 | $166,850 | 80 | 7% below | $79.27 |
| Merced, CA | $78.82 | $163,940 | 60 | 8% below | $80.20 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77.78 | $161,790 | 1,280 | 9% below | $73.07 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66.98 | $139,310 | 260 | 22% below | $63.74 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $64.04 | $133,190 | 300 | 25% below | $63.48 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $59.83 | $124,450 | 190 | 30% below | $54.99 |
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).
Dentist pay in states next to California
Dentist jobs in California · Dentist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a dentist make in California?
The median is $85.84 per hour, about $178,540 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $46.77 and the top 10% earn over $115+ (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays dentists the most?
Among California metro areas, Hanford-Corcoran, CA has the highest median at $109.95 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for dentist pay?
California ranks 18th of 45 states by median dentist 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 dentists? 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 Dentist pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.