Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in California
The median dental assistant earns $50,110 a year in California ($24.09 an hour), with the middle half earning between $46,270 and $60,670.[1]
25th percentile
$46,270
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$50,110
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$60,670
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $50,110 per year or $24.09/hr at the median. California runs about 4% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in California
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental assistants in California earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | California hourly | California annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.65 | $38,790 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $22.25 | $46,270 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $24.09 | $50,110 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $29.17 | $60,670 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $35.43 | $73,700 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $26.30 | $54,710 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in California
56,220
3.09
1.24
How California compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $50,110 in California vs. $48,070 nationally, $2,040 (4%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $38,790 vs. $37,130, 4% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $73,700 vs. $62,250, 18% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 10% in California vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in California
All 25 California metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $74,600 | $60,150–$76,710 | 2,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $64,390 | $58,760–$73,010 | 7,530 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $60,590 | $58,050–$66,640 | 680 |
| Napa | $60,270 | $50,690–$64,890 | 230 |
| Vallejo | $59,000 | $49,920–$75,880 | 630 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $58,930 | $48,390–$61,500 | 1,250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $58,580 | $47,930–$63,330 | 3,100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $58,580 | $50,500–$63,070 | 370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $58,120 | $44,550–$60,070 | 4,260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $57,150 | $47,960–$59,700 | 440 |
| Salinas | $56,790 | $47,450–$59,970 | 570 |
| El Centro | $56,050 | $46,990–$61,330 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $51,310 | $47,250–$61,210 | 610 |
| Modesto | $50,170 | $47,230–$59,680 | 890 |
| Fresno | $50,040 | $46,000–$57,870 | 1,360 |
| Yuba City | $50,030 | $45,410–$59,660 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $49,980 | $48,360–$61,160 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $49,090 | $46,920–$59,190 | 780 |
| Merced | $48,520 | $48,020–$57,790 | 250 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $48,500 | $46,980–$56,910 | 5,240 |
| Redding | $48,490 | $46,720–$58,740 | 240 |
| Chico | $48,170 | $46,650–$58,660 | 290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $48,100 | $39,230–$58,240 | 990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $46,900 | $45,190–$50,600 | 21,090 |
| Visalia | $46,630 | $45,900–$57,250 | 480 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in California
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 10% over 2024–2034, from 56,200 to 61,800 jobs, with about 8,120 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental assistant employment to grow 7% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 53,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
Dental assistant credentials in California
Licensing board: Dental Board of California[5]
Credentials:
- Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)
- Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF)
California licenses assistants through the Dental Board of California. DANB also lists orthodontic assistant and dental sedation assistant permits.[6]
What drives dental assistant pay in California
Pay for a dental assistant depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental assistant roles in California, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in California: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in California?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in California was $50,110 ($24.09 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $46,270 and $60,670. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $38,790 and the top 10% earned over $73,700.
Do dental assistants in California earn more than the national median?
Yes. The California median of $50,110 is higher than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $2,040 (4%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which California metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 25 California metro areas with published BLS data, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has the highest median at $74,600 a year. Visalia has the lowest, at $46,630.
How many dental assistants work in California?
BLS estimates 56,220 dental assistants were employed in California in May 2025. That is 3.09 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.24, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in California?
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 10% over 2024–2034, from 56,200 to 61,800 jobs. That works out to about 8,120 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
What credentials do dental assistants need in California?
California licenses assistants through the Dental Board of California. DANB also lists orthodontic assistant and dental sedation assistant permits. Credentials to know: Registered Dental Assistant (RDA); Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF). Requirements depend on which duties you perform, so check the Dental Board of California and DANB's California page for specifics.
Hiring in California?
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Other roles in California
Dental Assistant salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Assistants (31-9091), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, California long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants
- 5.Dental Board of California
- 6.DANB, California dental assisting state requirements