How much does a dentist make in Santa Cruz?
$176,000a year
Median yearly pay for dentists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $84.59 an hour or $14,660 a month.
- Hourly
- $84.59
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 133 of 316
- Jobs in the area
- 90
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $106,500Median: $176,000Highest 10%: $225,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,500 | $51.21 | |
| 25th | $175,200 | $84.22 | |
| Median | $176,000 | $84.59 | |
| 75th | $177,200 | $85.20 | |
| 90th | $225,500 | $108.39 |
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 |
| 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 |
| San Diego, CA | $158,200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $140,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $125,200 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $431,000 |
| Physician | $305,600 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $291,900 |
| Registered Nurse | $171,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,200 |
| Veterinarian | $164,800 |
| Pharmacist | $161,900 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,000 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,900 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $84.59 ($176,000 a year).
Do dentists make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $176,000 against $171,000 nationally, 3% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $166,000, so Santa Cruz pays 6% more.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for dentist pay?
133 of 316 metro areas with data.
How much does a dentist make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $106,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $225,500 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.