Dental Assistant salary in California
What dental assistants earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$50,110$24.09 per hour
vs U.S.+4%U.S. median $48,070
Middle half earn$46,270 – $60,670Top 10%: $73,700+
Jobs56,2201.24× the U.S. concentration
Dental Assistant pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,900 | $22.55 | 21,090 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,390 | $30.96 | 7,530 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,500 | $23.32 | 5,240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,120 | $27.94 | 4,260 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,580 | $28.16 | 3,100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,600 | $35.86 | 2,870 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,040 | $24.06 | 1,360 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,930 | $28.33 | 1,250 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | $23.12 | 990 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,170 | $24.12 | 890 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,090 | $23.60 | 780 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | $29.13 | 680 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,000 | $28.37 | 630 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $51,310 | $24.67 | 610 |
| Salinas, CA | $56,790 | $27.30 | 570 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,630 | $22.42 | 480 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,150 | $27.47 | 440 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,710 | $27.74 | 430 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,580 | $28.16 | 370 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,990 | $27.88 | 340 |
| Chico, CA | $48,170 | $23.16 | 290 |
| Merced, CA | $48,520 | $23.33 | 250 |
| Redding, CA | $48,490 | $23.31 | 240 |
| Yuba City, CA | $50,030 | $24.05 | 240 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 | $28.97 | 230 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $59,540 | $28.63 | 210 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,980 | $24.03 | 200 |
| El Centro, CA | $56,050 | $26.95 | 130 |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Dental Assistant pay in similar states
North Carolina · $50,380 Rhode Island · $50,150 New Jersey · $49,390 Arizona · $49,000 Michigan · $48,820 Indiana · $48,670
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $79,750 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590 Nurse Practitioners · $168,520
Questions
How much does a dental assistant make in California?
Dental Assistants in California earned a median of $50,110 a year ($24.09 an hour) in May 2025, 4% more than the national median of $48,070. The middle half earned $46,270 to $60,670.
Where in California do dental assistants earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $74,600.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.