Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
The median dentist earns $170,940 a year in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro, with the middle half between $126,820 and $215,580.[1]
25th percentile
$126,820
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$170,940
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$215,580
Upper end of the middle half
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara runs about 3% higher than the California median and ranks 13th of 24 California metros. It is about the same as the national median.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara pay range vs. California and the U.S.
| Percentile | Metro annual | California annual | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $103,610 | $74,510 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $126,820 | $124,470 | $125,710 |
| Median | $170,940 | $165,950 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $215,580 | $213,260 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $266,910 | $272,730 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $175,100 | $170,690 | $191,350 |
140
0.72
0.90
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Dentist salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
The median dentist salary in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area is $170,940, with the middle half earning between $126,820 and $215,580 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The full range runs from $103,610 at the 10th percentile to $266,910 at the 90th.
Is Santa Maria-Santa Barbara higher or lower than the rest of California?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara runs about 3% higher than the California state median for dentists. It ranks 13th of 24 California metro areas by median pay. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures.)
How does Santa Maria-Santa Barbara compare nationally?
Dentist pay in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara is about the same as the U.S. median. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures, not adjusted for cost of living.)
How many dentists work in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area?
BLS estimates 140 dentists were employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area in May 2025. Its location quotient is 0.90, so the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Other California metros