How much does a dental assistant make in San Jose?
$74,600a year
Median yearly pay for dental assistants in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $35.87 an hour or $6,217 a month.
- Hourly
- $35.87
- Vs. national median
- +55%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 388
- Jobs in the area
- 2,870
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $55,670Median: $74,600Highest 10%: $81,710
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $55,670 | $26.76 | |
| 25th | $60,150 | $28.92 | |
| Median | $74,600 | $35.87 | |
| 75th | $76,710 | $36.88 | |
| 90th | $81,710 | $39.28 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for dental assistants.
| 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 Diego, CA | $58,120 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $97,190 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $95,370 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $81,090 |
| Orderly | $65,790 |
| Medical Assistant | $61,940 |
| Phlebotomist | $60,600 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $58,550 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $57,420 |
| Healthcare Support Worker | $57,000 |
| Nursing Assistant | $56,840 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $35.87 ($74,600 a year).
Do dental assistants make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $74,600 against $48,070 nationally, 55% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $50,110, so San Jose pays 49% more.
Where does San Jose rank for dental assistant pay?
1 of 388 metro areas with data.
How much does a dental assistant make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $55,670 or less a year; the top 10% make $81,710 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.