How much does a dental assistant make in San Diego?
$58,120a year
Median yearly pay for dental assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $27.94 an hour or $4,843 a month.
- Hourly
- $27.94
- Vs. national median
- +21%
- Rank among cities
- 26 of 388
- Jobs in the area
- 4,260
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $38,700Median: $58,120Highest 10%: $63,070
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,700 | $18.61 | |
| 25th | $44,550 | $21.42 | |
| Median | $58,120 | $27.94 | |
| 75th | $60,070 | $28.88 | |
| 90th | $63,070 | $30.32 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for dental assistants.
| San Jose, CA | $74,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $64,390 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60,590 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $58,930 |
| Sacramento, CA | $58,580 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $58,580 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $57,150 |
| Salinas, CA | $56,790 |
| El Centro, CA | $56,050 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $51,310 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,170 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,040 |
| Yuba City, CA | $50,030 |
| Hanford, CA | $49,980 |
| Stockton, CA | $49,090 |
| Merced, CA | $48,520 |
| Riverside, CA | $48,500 |
| Redding, CA | $48,490 |
| Chico, CA | $48,170 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $48,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $46,900 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,630 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $82,680 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $82,160 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $67,830 |
| Phlebotomist | $58,170 |
| Healthcare Support Worker | $57,740 |
| Medical Assistant | $49,420 |
| Orderly | $49,410 |
| Nursing Assistant | $48,070 |
| Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $46,720 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $46,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $27.94 ($58,120 a year).
Do dental assistants make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $58,120 against $48,070 nationally, 21% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $50,110, so San Diego pays 16% more.
Where does San Diego rank for dental assistant pay?
26 of 388 metro areas with data.
How much does a dental assistant make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $38,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $63,070 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.