Dental Assistant Salary in California
Dental Assistants in California earn a median of $50,110 a year, or $24.09 an hour. That ranks California #14 of 50 states and is $2,040 more than the national median.
- Median / year
- $50,110
- Median / hour
- $24.09
- Employed
- 56,220
- National rank
- #14of 50
Pay range in California
Dental Assistant pay by California metro area
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,600 | 2,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,390 | 7,530 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | 680 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 | 230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,000 | 630 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,930 | 1,250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,580 | 3,100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,580 | 370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,120 | 4,260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,150 | 440 |
| Salinas, CA | $56,790 | 570 |
| El Centro, CA | $56,050 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $51,310 | 610 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,170 | 890 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,040 | 1,360 |
| Yuba City, CA | $50,030 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,980 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,090 | 780 |
| Merced, CA | $48,520 | 250 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,500 | 5,240 |
| Redding, CA | $48,490 | 240 |
| Chico, CA | $48,170 | 290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | 990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,900 | 21,090 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,630 | 480 |
FAQ
How much does a dental assistant make in California?
The median annual wage is $50,110 ($24.09 per hour), according to the BLS for May 2025. That is $2,040 above the U.S. median of $48,070.
What do entry-level dental assistants make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of California dental assistants earned $38,790 or less ($18.65/hour), a reasonable estimate for new graduates.
Where do dental assistants earn the most in California?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest metro median at $74,600.
How many dental assistants work in California?
About 56,220 dental assistants were employed in California in May 2025.