Dental Assistants Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 56,220 employed
Annual Mean
$54,710
$26.30/hr
Annual Median
$50,110
$24.09/hr
Bottom 10%
$38,790
$18.65/hr
Top 10%
$73,700
$35.43/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$54,710
Difference
+9.0% vs US avg
US National
$50,200
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $38,790 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $46,270 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $50,110 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $60,670 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $73,700 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$39K
25th
$46K
Median
$50K
75th
$61K
90th
$74K
California has a large Dental Assistants workforce with approximately 56,220 positions, indicating strong demand for this occupation in the region.
In California, Dental Assistants salaries range from $38,790 at the 10th percentile to $73,700 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $34,910 (70% of the median). This relatively narrow range suggests more consistent pay across employers in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Dental Assistants wages
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$71,150
per year
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$64,900
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$62,500
per year
Vallejo, CA
$61,120
per year
Napa, CA
$59,570
per year
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$58,970
per year
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$57,840
per year
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$57,500
per year
How Dental Assistants Compares in California
The average Dental Assistants salary of $54,710 in California ranks above the national average of $50,200. There are approximately 56,220 Dental Assistantss employed in California.
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.