Salary · CA · SOC 29-1021

Dentist salary in California, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for dentists, general 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 dentists, general in California was $165,950 a year, or $79.79 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $74,510 to $272,730. About 16,770 were employed.

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Dentist pay in California vs the US

Dentist wages in California and the US, May 2025
Measure	CA annual	CA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$165,950	$79.79	$170,950
Mean (average)	$170,690	$82.06	$191,350
10th percentile	$74,510	$35.82	$86,250
25th percentile	$124,470	$59.84	$125,710
75th percentile	$213,260	$102.53	$224,040
90th percentile	$272,730	$131.12	$319,630

Employment in California: 16,770. Location quotient: 1.15 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Dentist salary by metro area in California

Dentist median wage by metro area, California
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$139,990	$67.30	6,300
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$202,060	$97.14	2,090
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$158,160	$76.04	1,710
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$125,230	$60.21	1,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$207,910	$99.96	1,130
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$170,500	$81.97	970
Fresno, CA	$188,510	$90.63	340
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$178,150	$85.65	310
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$169,160	$81.33	230
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$172,120	$82.75	220
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$168,150	$80.84	200
Salinas, CA	$185,040	$88.96	170
Visalia, CA	$214,950	$103.34	170
Modesto, CA	$167,050	$80.31	160
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$170,940	$82.18	140
Vallejo, CA	$183,000	$87.98	140
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$170,630	$82.04	100
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$175,950	$84.59	90
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$222,430	$106.94	60
Redding, CA	$170,060	$81.76	60
Chico, CA	$163,520	$78.62	50
El Centro, CA	$217,830	$104.73	40
Merced, CA	$170,200	$81.83	40
Yuba City, CA	$175,850	$84.55	40

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

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Dentist salary in California

Median pay: $165,950 a year ($79.79 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $74,510 to $272,730 a year

Employed: 16,770

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">Dentist salary in California</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$165,950</strong> a year ($79.79 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $74,510 to $272,730 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 16,770</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/dentist/ca" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Dentist make per hour in California?

The median hourly wage was $79.79 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $35.82 and the 90th was $131.12.

What is the average Dentist salary in California?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $170,690 a year and a median of $165,950 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do dentists, general in California earn more than the US median?

The California median of $165,950 is 3% lower than the US median of $170,950 (BLS, May 2025).

How does California rank for dentist pay?

California ranks 33 of 47 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for dentists, general (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1021. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.