How much does a dentist make in San Diego?
$158,200a year
Median yearly pay for dentists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $76.04 an hour or $13,180 a month.
- Hourly
- $76.04
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 242 of 316
- Jobs in the area
- 1,710
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $90,600Median: $158,200Highest 10%: $259,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $90,600 | $43.56 | |
| 25th | $124,500 | $59.87 | |
| Median | $158,200 | $76.04 | |
| 75th | $222,000 | $106.75 | |
| 90th | $259,300 | $124.67 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for dentists.
| Hanford, CA | $222,400 |
| 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 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $172,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $170,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $170,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $170,500 |
| Redding, CA | $170,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $169,200 |
| Stockton, CA | $168,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $167,100 |
| Chico, CA | $163,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $140,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $125,200 |
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 dentist make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $76.04 ($158,200 a year).
Do dentists make more in San Diego than the national average?
No: $158,200 against $171,000 nationally, 7% less.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $166,000, so San Diego pays 5% less.
Where does San Diego rank for dentist pay?
242 of 316 metro areas with data.
How much does a dentist make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $90,600 or less a year; the top 10% make $259,300 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.