How Much Do Dental Assistants Earn in California?
California is the most populous state in the U.S. and one with a big demand for qualified healthcare and dental workers. Californians are health conscious and that means there is plenty of work for trained dental assistants.
Major growth is expected in dental assisting careers in the state through 2026. The rate of growth, at 16.5 percent, is much faster than average job growth. Expect to see 6,570 open positions for dental assistants in California each year. There will also be an estimated total of 8,100 completely new positions added.
California dental assistants earn $43,280 per year on average, which is higher than the national average. The top ten percent in the state make more than $60,000 per year.
| AreaName | Base Year | Employed | Projection Year | Projected Employment | Change | % Change | Projected Average Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2018 | 346,000 | 2026 | 384,700 | 38,700 | 19.5% | 44,800 |
| California | 2016 | 49,100 | 2026 | 57,200 | 8,100 | 16.5% | 6,570 |
| State | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 351,470 | $19.79 | $41,170 | $27,980 | $33,440 | $40,080 | $48,550 | $56,930 |
| California | 56,840 | $20.81 | $43,280 | $28,710 | $33,850 | $41,320 | $50,970 | $60,820 |
Employment and salaries vary by region and metropolitan area with the highest number of employed dental assistants in and around Los Angeles and San Francisco. The best salaries for dental assistants in California can be found in Santa Rosa, San Jose and San Francisco. Dental assistants earn the least in the Visalia-Porterville area.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 1040 | $19.20 | $39,930 | $27,220 | $30,100 | $35,780 | $47,200 | $61,790 |
| Chico, CA | 240 | $20.31 | $42,240 | $32,450 | $36,880 | $43,060 | $48,240 | $51,760 |
| El Centro, CA | 170 | $22.82 | $47,460 | $31,830 | $36,130 | $42,300 | $59,940 | $67,500 |
| Fresno, CA | 1230 | $18.34 | $38,150 | $27,350 | $30,650 | $37,570 | $45,440 | $50,090 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 190 | $20.44 | $42,510 | $25,960 | $29,590 | $36,440 | $58,300 | $67,490 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 19440 | $19.18 | $39,900 | $27,840 | $31,650 | $38,800 | $47,720 | $55,050 |
| Madera, CA | 200 | $21.19 | $44,080 | $27,810 | $33,890 | $44,330 | $51,470 | $62,700 |
| Merced, CA | 140 | $19.03 | $39,590 | $28,070 | $32,320 | $36,910 | $44,760 | $54,530 |
| Modesto, CA | 760 | $17.43 | $36,260 | $26,970 | $30,410 | $35,260 | $40,660 | $48,720 |
| Napa, CA | 210 | $24.24 | $50,420 | $34,730 | $44,510 | $52,340 | $58,980 | $63,470 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1110 | $21.35 | $44,400 | $32,450 | $38,840 | $44,750 | $49,610 | $54,810 |
| Redding, CA | 240 | $19.69 | $40,960 | $33,190 | $35,700 | $39,690 | $47,050 | $53,600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 6050 | $18.06 | $37,560 | $27,380 | $30,700 | $36,290 | $43,940 | $50,300 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 3810 | $22.84 | $47,500 | $33,890 | $38,500 | $44,060 | $49,660 | $61,530 |
| Salinas, CA | 510 | $21.84 | $45,430 | $32,740 | $36,940 | $43,660 | $50,970 | $65,950 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 5270 | $19.98 | $41,550 | $28,650 | $34,300 | $40,730 | $48,340 | $57,570 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 6980 | $24.76 | $51,510 | $32,570 | $38,690 | $48,880 | $60,180 | $70,540 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3860 | $25.18 | $52,380 | $36,540 | $43,950 | $54,980 | $60,870 | $64,720 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 470 | $23.05 | $47,940 | $35,500 | $39,060 | $47,630 | $57,200 | $62,480 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 430 | $24.10 | $50,120 | $35,440 | $40,370 | $50,990 | $59,740 | $65,060 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 590 | $23.65 | $49,180 | $33,660 | $36,580 | $41,420 | $58,630 | $71,130 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 800 | $26.93 | $56,010 | $39,740 | $50,170 | $56,950 | $63,360 | $72,310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 900 | $17.51 | $36,420 | $26,470 | $30,170 | $35,030 | $39,530 | $51,960 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 540 | $24.01 | $49,940 | $35,560 | $43,340 | $49,850 | $56,920 | $65,340 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 510 | $17.25 | $35,880 | $27,070 | $29,780 | $35,570 | $41,850 | $47,080 |
| Yuba City, CA | 150 | $18.83 | $39,160 | $29,150 | $33,880 | $39,240 | $45,690 | $50,330 |
Compared to other healthcare assisting careers, dental assistants fall in the middle of the salary range in California. They earn more than medical assistants and nursing assistants but less than pharmacy technicians and physical therapy assistants.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 36560 | $21.73 | $45,200 | $29,970 | $35,390 | $43,280 | $53,230 | $65,150 |
| Nursing Assistants | 100190 | $17.61 | $36,630 | $26,870 | $30,000 | $34,910 | $40,880 | $50,070 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 5750 | $31.81 | $66,150 | $34,010 | $54,220 | $69,620 | $79,830 | $90,560 |
| Dental Assistants | 56840 | $20.81 | $43,280 | $28,710 | $33,850 | $41,320 | $50,970 | $60,820 |
| Medical Assistants | 96850 | $19.29 | $40,120 | $26,820 | $31,410 | $37,640 | $47,650 | $59,130 |