California Median
$50,110
per year
Hourly Rate
$24.09
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+4% vs US median
US median $48,070
State Rank
#14 of 50
56,220 employed here
How much does a Dental Assistant make in California?
Dental Assistants in California take home a median of $50,110 annually — roughly $24.09 an hour — which runs 4% above the national median of $48,070.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $38,790 while the top 10% make $73,700 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,270 and $60,670 a year.
Dental Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,790 | $18.65 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,270 | $22.25 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $50,110 | $24.09 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $60,670 | $29.17 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,700 | $35.43 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 14th out of 50 states and territories for Dental Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Dental Assistant salary in other states
Minnesota $65,270District of Columbia $60,580Maine $60,070New Hampshire $59,530Oregon $59,490Washington $58,090Massachusetts $57,980North Dakota $57,770Alaska $57,710Connecticut $56,850Vermont $52,760North Carolina $50,380Rhode Island $50,150New Jersey $49,390Arizona $49,000Michigan $48,820Indiana $48,670Maryland $48,620Illinois $48,610Iowa $48,430Colorado $48,340New York $48,110Ohio $47,970Pennsylvania $47,930South Dakota $47,900Kentucky $47,730Florida $47,620Delaware $47,600Wisconsin $47,520South Carolina $47,320Nevada $47,110Georgia $46,840Tennessee $46,720Montana $46,680Virginia $46,670Nebraska $46,660Missouri $45,970Idaho $45,880Oklahoma $45,740Texas $45,430Wyoming $44,990Hawaii $44,720New Mexico $44,400Louisiana $44,090Arkansas $42,830Mississippi $39,160Alabama $39,080West Virginia $37,960Utah $37,760
Working as a Dental Assistant in California
Nationally, about 388,000 people work as Dental Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($50,110) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dental Assistant make in California?
The median Dental Assistant salary in California is $50,110 per year, or about $24.09 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,790 at the entry level to $73,700 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Dental Assistants about 4% more than the national median of $48,070. California ranks 14th out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Dental Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $50,110 a year. About 56,220 Dental Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Dental Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.