Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
The median dentist earns $175,950 a year in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro, with the middle half between $175,170 and $177,210.[1]
25th percentile
$175,170
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$175,950
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$177,210
Upper end of the middle half
Santa Cruz-Watsonville runs about 6% higher than the California median and ranks 10th of 24 California metros. It is about 3% higher than the national median.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville pay range vs. California and the U.S.
| Percentile | Metro annual | California annual | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $106,520 | $74,510 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $175,170 | $124,470 | $125,710 |
| Median | $175,950 | $165,950 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $177,210 | $213,260 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $225,460 | $272,730 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $172,560 | $170,690 | $191,350 |
90
0.93
1.16
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Dentist salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
The median dentist salary in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area is $175,950, with the middle half earning between $175,170 and $177,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The full range runs from $106,520 at the 10th percentile to $225,460 at the 90th.
Is Santa Cruz-Watsonville higher or lower than the rest of California?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville runs about 6% higher than the California state median for dentists. It ranks 10th of 24 California metro areas by median pay. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures.)
How does Santa Cruz-Watsonville compare nationally?
Dentist pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is about 3% higher than the U.S. median. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures, not adjusted for cost of living.)
How many dentists work in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area?
BLS estimates 90 dentists were employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area in May 2025. Its location quotient is 1.16, so the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Other California metros