Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Practice Administrator Salary in California
The median dental practice administrator earns $141,480 a year in California ($68.02 an hour), with the middle half earning between $98,470 and $205,390.[1]
25th percentile
$98,470
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$141,480
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$205,390
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $141,480 per year or $68.02/hr at the median. California runs about 14% 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 practice administrators 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 | $35.00 | $72,800 | $35.29 | $73,390 |
| 25th percentile | $47.34 | $98,470 | $45.53 | $94,700 |
| Median | $68.02 | $141,480 | $59.55 | $123,860 |
| 75th percentile | $98.75 | $205,390 | $79.85 | $166,100 |
| 90th percentile | $132.05 | $274,660 | $107.86 | $224,340 |
| Mean (average) | $76.52 | $159,170 | $67.77 | $140,970 |
How many dental practice administrators work in California
75,090
4.12
1.07
How California compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $141,480 in California vs. $123,860 nationally, $17,620 (14%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $72,800 vs. $73,390, about the same.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $274,660 vs. $224,340, 22% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 34.9% in California vs. 23.2% nationally.
Dental Practice Administrator 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 | $171,210 | $109,100–$227,060 | 4,560 |
| Vallejo | $170,730 | $110,520–$223,180 | 800 |
| Napa | $167,530 | $109,580–$245,310 | 270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $166,310 | $104,010–$224,090 | 11,980 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $159,350 | $101,140–$215,450 | 4,500 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $143,150 | $101,540–$207,990 | 910 |
| Salinas | $140,610 | $98,820–$189,420 | 510 |
| Modesto | $138,950 | $95,000–$202,240 | 980 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $138,640 | $97,280–$198,910 | 460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $138,080 | $99,450–$200,610 | 6,980 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $137,010 | $94,120–$205,390 | 940 |
| Fresno | $136,130 | $95,060–$186,890 | 1,750 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $135,010 | $96,570–$171,960 | 6,920 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $134,230 | $95,530–$182,850 | 23,740 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $132,670 | $92,920–$175,840 | 1,020 |
| El Centro | $132,620 | $83,720–$163,280 | 220 |
| Chico | $131,520 | $80,130–$164,090 | 400 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $130,290 | $83,480–$194,580 | 730 |
| Yuba City | $129,680 | $92,330–$179,920 | 190 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $127,010 | $94,140–$165,890 | 180 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $126,700 | $93,620–$187,270 | 500 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $126,540 | $92,820–$170,540 | 1,320 |
| Visalia | $125,770 | $81,120–$163,150 | 590 |
| Redding | $124,210 | $88,260–$170,050 | 360 |
| Merced | $114,510 | $80,630–$175,100 | 290 |
Job outlook for dental practice administrators in California
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dental practice administrators to grow 34.9% over 2024–2034, from 77,900 to 105,100 jobs, with about 9,080 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 23.2%.
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.
What drives dental practice administrator pay in California
Pay for a dental practice administrator 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.
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Dental Practice Administrator salary in California: FAQ
How much do dental practice administrators make in California?
The median annual wage for dental practice administrators in California was $141,480 ($68.02 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $98,470 and $205,390. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $72,800 and the top 10% earned over $274,660.
Do dental practice administrators in California earn more than the national median?
Yes. The California median of $141,480 is higher than the U.S. median of $123,860. That is $17,620 (14%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which California metro area pays dental practice administrators the most?
Among the 25 California metro areas with published BLS data, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has the highest median at $171,210 a year. Merced has the lowest, at $114,510.
How many dental practice administrators work in California?
BLS estimates 75,090 dental practice administrators were employed in California in May 2025. That is 4.12 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.07, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental practice administrators growing in California?
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dental practice administrators to grow 34.9% over 2024–2034, from 77,900 to 105,100 jobs. That works out to about 9,080 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 23.2%.
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Dental Practice Administrator salary by state
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in Texas
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in Florida
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in New York
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in Illinois
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in Pennsylvania
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in Ohio
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in Georgia
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in North Carolina
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Medical and Health Services Managers (11-9111), 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: Medical and Health Services Managers