General Dentist salary in California
The verified BLS median general dentist in California earns $165,950 ($79.79/hr). California pays roughly 3% below the national median of $170,950.
General Dentist pay in California: the analysis
At a verified median of $165,950, general dentists in California earn slightly below the U.S. median of $170,950 — a gap of about 3%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports general dentist pay, California ranks 35th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of general dentists in this state earn around $74,510, while the top tenth earn $272,730 or more — a spread of about $198,220. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 16,770 general dentists employed in California — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within California, a general dentist earns about 1.3× what a dental hygienist earns and about 3.3× what a dental assistant earns ($124,930, $50,110 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, general dentist pay is highest in Hanford at about $222,430 and lowest in Riverside at about $125,230. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
General Dentist pay distribution — California (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $74,510 |
| 25th percentilei | $124,470 |
| Median (50th)i | $165,950 |
| 75th percentilei | $213,260 |
| 90th percentilei | $272,730 |
| Mean (average)i | $170,690 |
General Dentist pay by metro in California
All 24 California metros where BLS publishes a general dentist wage — highest first. State median: $165,950.
- Hanford$222,430+34%
- El Centro$217,830+31%
- Visalia$214,950+30%
- San Jose$207,910+25%
- San Francisco$202,060+22%
- Fresno$188,510+14%
- Salinas$185,040+12%
- Vallejo$183,000+10%
- Oxnard$178,150+7%
- Santa Cruz$175,950+6%
- Yuba City$175,850+6%
- Bakersfield$172,120+4%
- Santa Maria$170,940+3%
- San Luis Obispo$170,630+3%
- Sacramento$170,500+3%
- Merced$170,200+3%
- Redding$170,060+2%
- Santa Rosa$169,160+2%
- Stockton$168,150+1%
- Modesto$167,050+1%
- Chico$163,520-1%
- San Diego$158,160-5%
- Los Angeles$139,990-16%
- Riverside$125,230-25%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the California median. Metros where BLS does not publish a general dentist wage are not listed.
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How much does a general dentist make in California?
The verified BLS OEWS median general dentist in California earns about $165,950 ($79.79/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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