Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in California
The median dentist earns $165,950 a year in California ($79.79 an hour), with the middle half earning between $124,470 and $213,260.[1]
25th percentile
$124,470
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$165,950
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$213,260
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $165,950 per year or $79.79/hr at the median. California runs about 3% lower 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 dentists 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 | $35.82 | $74,510 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $59.84 | $124,470 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $79.79 | $165,950 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $102.53 | $213,260 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $131.12 | $272,730 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $82.06 | $170,690 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in California
16,770
0.92
1.15
How California compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $165,950 in California vs. $170,950 nationally, $5,000 (3%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $74,510 vs. $86,250, 14% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $272,730 vs. $319,630, 15% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 6.9% in California vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in California
All 24 California metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran | $222,430 | $157,640–$314,140 | 60 |
| El Centro | $217,830 | $158,240–$269,110 | 40 |
| Visalia | $214,950 | $136,210–$216,600 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $207,910 | $124,470–$224,040 | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $202,060 | $150,860–$245,100 | 2,090 |
| Fresno | $188,510 | $137,590–$271,360 | 340 |
| Salinas | $185,040 | $140,860–$274,880 | 170 |
| Vallejo | $183,000 | $99,570–$269,630 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $178,150 | $162,760–$214,230 | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $175,950 | $175,170–$177,210 | 90 |
| Yuba City | $175,850 | $136,950–$222,920 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $172,120 | $135,850–$218,390 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $170,940 | $126,820–$215,580 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $170,630 | $130,690–$227,700 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $170,500 | $124,200–$218,300 | 970 |
| Merced | $170,200 | $133,850–$212,090 | 40 |
| Redding | $170,060 | $129,310–$216,610 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $169,160 | $94,720–$226,020 | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $168,150 | $95,960–$261,040 | 200 |
| Modesto | $167,050 | $128,390–$223,280 | 160 |
| Chico | $163,520 | $123,620–$218,190 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $158,160 | $124,520–$222,040 | 1,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $139,990 | $75,570–$197,510 | 6,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $125,230 | $107,700–$175,540 | 1,560 |
Job outlook for dentists in California
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 6.9% over 2024–2034, from 18,900 to 20,200 jobs, with about 640 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dentist (all dentists, including specialists) employment to grow 6% over 2025–35, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,800 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.
Licensing for dentists in California
Licensing board: Dental Board of California[5] (licenses dentists and dental assistants (RDA and RDAEF))
What drives dentist pay in California
Pay for a dentist 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 dentist roles in California, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in California: FAQ
How much do dentists make in California?
The median annual wage for dentists in California was $165,950 ($79.79 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $124,470 and $213,260. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $74,510 and the top 10% earned over $272,730. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in California earn more than the national median?
No. The California median of $165,950 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $5,000 (3%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which California metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 24 California metro areas with published BLS data, Hanford-Corcoran has the highest median at $222,430 a year. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has the lowest, at $125,230.
How many dentists work in California?
BLS estimates 16,770 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in California in May 2025. That is 0.92 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.15, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in California?
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 6.9% over 2024–2034, from 18,900 to 20,200 jobs. That works out to about 640 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Who licenses dentists in California?
The Dental Board of California. Confirm current requirements on the board's website before you apply.
Hiring in California?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in California
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021), 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: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)
- 5.Dental Board of California