Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in California
The median dental specialist earns $230,730 a year in California ($110.93 an hour), with the middle half earning between $147,540 and $265,150.[1]
25th percentile
$147,540
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$230,730
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$265,150
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $230,730 per year or $110.93/hr at the median. California runs about 3% 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 specialists 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 | $42.91 | $89,250 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $70.93 | $147,540 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $110.93 | $230,730 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $127.48 | $265,150 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $150.69 | $313,440 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $104.83 | $218,050 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in California
340
0.02
0.55
How California compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $230,730 in California vs. $224,990 nationally, $5,740 (3%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $89,250 vs. $104,120, 14% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $313,440 vs. $402,700, 22% lower.
Dental Specialist pay by metro area in California
All 4 California metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $279,820 | $131,730–$354,440 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $241,090 | $94,810–$269,690 | Not published |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $230,190 | $192,070–$258,360 | Not published |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $199,300 | $192,780–$232,130 | 30 |
What drives dental specialist pay in California
Pay for a dental specialist 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 Specialist salary in California: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in California?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in California was $230,730 ($110.93 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $147,540 and $265,150. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $89,250 and the top 10% earned over $313,440. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in California earn more than the national median?
Yes. The California median of $230,730 is higher than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $5,740 (3%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which California metro area pays dental specialists the most?
Among the 4 California metro areas with published BLS data, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has the highest median at $279,820 a year. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom has the lowest, at $199,300.
How many dental specialists work in California?
BLS estimates 340 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in California in May 2025. That is 0.02 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.55, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
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