Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Hygienist Salary in California
The median dental hygienist earns $124,930 a year in California, with most between $109,730 and $132,120.
25th percentile
$109,730
Entry / lower range
Median
$124,930
The typical pay
75th percentile
$132,120
Experienced / upper range
That's roughly $124,930 per year or $60.06/hr at the median. California runs about 27% above the national median.
What drives dental hygienist pay in California
Pay for a dental hygienistdepends on experience, setting, and metro. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) often sit toward the upper end of the range, since they compete for talent across multiple locations and can offer benefits and advancement a single practice can't.
Across dentistry, hiring is hard and getting harder: staffing is consistently ranked among dentists' top challenges, and open roles routinely take well over two months to fill. For candidates, that means leverage; for employers, it means speed and fit matter more than ever.
For dental pros
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Dental Hygienist salary in California: FAQ
What is the average dental hygienist salary in California?
The median dental hygienist salary in California is about $124,930 per year ($60.06/hr), based on BLS OEWS data (May 2025). Most earn between $109,730 and $132,120.
How does California compare to the national average?
At a $124,930 median, dental hygienist pay in California runs about 27% above the national median. Local cost of living and demand drive most of the difference.
Which California cities pay dental hygienists the most?
Among California metros, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont is at the top, with a median around $146,760.
Hiring in California?
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Other roles in California
Dental Hygienist salary by state