Salary · CA · SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in California, per year and per hour

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

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

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Quick answer

The median pay for dental hygienists in California was $124,930 a year, or $60.06 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $102,090 to $151,920. About 24,500 were employed.

Dental Hygienist pay in California vs the US

Dental Hygienist wages in California and the US, May 2025
MeasureCA annualCA hourlyUS annual
Median (50th percentile)$124,930$60.06$98,100
Mean (average)$128,110$61.59$98,990
10th percentile$102,090$49.08$74,880
25th percentile$109,730$52.76$83,570
75th percentile$132,120$63.52$108,480
90th percentile$151,920$73.04$126,050

Employment in California: 24,500. Location quotient: 0.94 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Dental Hygienist salary by metro area in California

Dental Hygienist median wage by metro area, California
Metro areaMedian annualMedian hourlyEmployed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$122,980$59.127,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$146,760$70.563,780
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$122,540$58.922,200
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$123,790$59.521,940
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$105,730$50.831,860
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$139,990$67.301,620
Fresno, CA$101,730$48.91530
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$126,530$60.83500
Stockton-Lodi, CA$125,130$60.16480
Modesto, CA$123,910$59.57390
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$114,380$54.99340
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$136,210$65.49310
Vallejo, CA$128,570$61.81270
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$135,990$65.38260
Salinas, CA$122,370$58.83240
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$125,670$60.42220
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$130,600$62.79220
Visalia, CA$98,240$47.23200
Chico, CA$118,800$57.12150
Redding, CA$118,130$56.79130
Merced, CA$117,400$56.44100
Napa, CA$131,370$63.16100
Hanford-Corcoran, CA$113,160$54.4180
Yuba City, CA$124,780$59.9960
El Centro, CA$115,870$55.7140

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

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Dental Hygienist salary in California
Median pay: $124,930 a year ($60.06 an hour)
Middle 80% earn $102,090 to $151,920 a year
Employed: 24,500
BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

Questions

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

The median hourly wage was $60.06 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $49.08 and the 90th was $73.04.

What is the average Dental Hygienist salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $128,110 a year and a median of $124,930 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The California median of $124,930 is 27% higher than the US median of $98,100 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for dental hygienist pay?

California ranks 4 of 50 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for dental hygienists (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1292. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.

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