How much does a dental hygienist make in San Diego?
$123,800a year
Median yearly pay for dental hygienists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $59.51 an hour or $10,320 a month.
- Hourly
- $59.51
- Vs. national median
- +26%
- Rank among cities
- 20 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 1,940
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $108,300Median: $123,800Highest 10%: $130,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $108,300 | $52.08 | |
| 25th | $121,400 | $58.36 | |
| Median | $123,800 | $59.51 | |
| 75th | $126,800 | $60.97 | |
| 90th | $130,500 | $62.75 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for dental hygienists.
| San Francisco, CA | $146,800 |
| San Jose, CA | $140,000 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $136,200 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $136,000 |
| Napa, CA | $131,400 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $130,600 |
| Vallejo, CA | $128,600 |
| Oxnard, CA | $126,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $125,700 |
| Stockton, CA | $125,100 |
| Yuba City, CA | $124,800 |
| Modesto, CA | $123,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $123,000 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,500 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,400 |
| Chico, CA | $118,800 |
| Redding, CA | $118,100 |
| Merced, CA | $117,400 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $114,400 |
| Hanford, CA | $113,200 |
| Riverside, CA | $105,700 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,700 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,240 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cardiologist | $493,700 |
| Psychiatrist | $335,600 |
| Physician | $333,300 |
| Physician | $323,100 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,500 |
| Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $293,400 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $282,200 |
| Pediatrician | $262,700 |
| Podiatrist | $235,400 |
| Dermatologist | $233,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $59.51 ($123,800 a year).
Do dental hygienists make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $123,800 against $98,100 nationally, 26% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $124,900, so San Diego pays 1% less.
Where does San Diego rank for dental hygienist pay?
20 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a dental hygienist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $108,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $130,500 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.