Salary · CA · SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for dental assistants in California, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for dental assistants in California was $50,110 a year, or $24.09 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $38,790 to $73,700. About 56,220 were employed.

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Dental Assistant pay in California vs the US

Dental Assistant wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$50,110	$24.09	$48,070
Mean (average)	$54,710	$26.30	$50,200
10th percentile	$38,790	$18.65	$37,130
25th percentile	$46,270	$22.25	$44,340
75th percentile	$60,670	$29.17	$58,090
90th percentile	$73,700	$35.43	$62,250

Employment in California: 56,220. Location quotient: 1.24 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Dental Assistant salary by metro area in California

Dental Assistant median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$46,900	$22.55	21,090
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$64,390	$30.96	7,530
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$48,500	$23.32	5,240
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$58,120	$27.94	4,260
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$58,580	$28.16	3,100
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$74,600	$35.86	2,870
Fresno, CA	$50,040	$24.06	1,360
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$58,930	$28.33	1,250
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$48,100	$23.12	990
Modesto, CA	$50,170	$24.12	890
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$49,090	$23.60	780
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$60,590	$29.13	680
Vallejo, CA	$59,000	$28.37	630
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$51,310	$24.67	610
Salinas, CA	$56,790	$27.30	570
Visalia, CA	$46,630	$22.42	480
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$57,150	$27.47	440
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$58,580	$28.16	370
Chico, CA	$48,170	$23.16	290
Merced, CA	$48,520	$23.33	250
Redding, CA	$48,490	$23.31	240
Yuba City, CA	$50,030	$24.05	240
Napa, CA	$60,270	$28.97	230
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$49,980	$24.03	200
El Centro, CA	$56,050	$26.95	130

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Dental Assistant salary in California

Median pay: $50,110 a year ($24.09 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $38,790 to $73,700 a year

Employed: 56,220

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Dental Assistant salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$50,110</strong> a year ($24.09 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $38,790 to $73,700 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 56,220</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/dental-assistant/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Dental Assistant make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $24.09 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $18.65 and the 90th was $35.43.

What is the average Dental Assistant salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $54,710 a year and a median of $50,110 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do dental assistants in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $50,110 is 4% higher than the US median of $48,070 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for dental assistant pay?

California ranks 14 of 50 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for dental assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-9091. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.