How much does a dentist make in California?
$166,000a year
Median yearly pay for dentists in California. That is $79.78 an hour or $13,830 a month.
- Hourly
- $79.78
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among states
- 33 of 47
- Jobs in the state
- 16,770
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $74,510Median: $166,000Highest 10%: $272,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,510 | $35.82 | |
| 25th | $124,500 | $59.84 | |
| Median | $166,000 | $79.78 | |
| 75th | $213,300 | $102.53 | |
| 90th | $272,700 | $131.12 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Hanford, CA | $222,400 |
| El Centro, CA | $217,800 |
| Visalia, CA | $215,000 |
| San Jose, CA | $207,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $202,100 |
| Fresno, CA | $188,500 |
| Salinas, CA | $185,000 |
| Vallejo, CA | $183,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $178,200 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $176,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $175,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $172,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $170,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $170,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $170,500 |
| Merced, CA | $170,200 |
| Redding, CA | $170,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $169,200 |
| Stockton, CA | $168,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $167,100 |
| Chico, CA | $163,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $158,200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $140,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $125,200 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for dentists.
| 30. Indiana | $166,700 |
| 31. Colorado | $166,200 |
| 32. Oklahoma | $166,200 |
| 33. California | $166,000 |
| 34. Pennsylvania | $163,400 |
| 35. Texas | $162,400 |
| 36. Nevada | $162,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $79.78 ($166,000 a year).
Do dentists make more in California than the national average?
No: $166,000 against $171,000 nationally, 3% less.
Where does California rank for dentist pay?
California ranks 33 of 47 states.
Which city in California pays dentists the most?
Hanford-Corcoran, CA, with a median of $222,400 a year.
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.