How much does a dental hygienist make in Santa Cruz?
$130,600a year
Median yearly pay for dental hygienists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $62.79 an hour or $10,880 a month.
- Hourly
- $62.79
- Vs. national median
- +33%
- Rank among cities
- 10 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 220
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $106,900Median: $130,600Highest 10%: $145,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,900 | $51.38 | |
| 25th | $122,200 | $58.74 | |
| Median | $130,600 | $62.79 | |
| 75th | $145,600 | $70.00 | |
| 90th | $145,600 | $70.00 |
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 |
| 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 |
| San Diego, CA | $123,800 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $431,000 |
| Physician | $305,600 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $291,900 |
| Dentist | $176,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $171,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,200 |
| Veterinarian | $164,800 |
| Pharmacist | $161,900 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,000 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $62.79 ($130,600 a year).
Do dental hygienists make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $130,600 against $98,100 nationally, 33% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $124,900, so Santa Cruz pays 5% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for dental hygienist pay?
10 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a dental hygienist make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $106,900 or less a year; the top 10% make $145,600 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.