Dental Assistants Salary in California
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for dental assistants in California was $50,110 +4.2% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $50,110 | $48,070 |
| Median hourly | $24.09 | $23.11 |
| Employment | 56,220 | 387,790 |
| Location quotient | 1.24 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
Reading the data
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $38,790, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $73,700 — a 1.9x gap between entry-level and top earners.
At $24.09 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $50,107 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $50,110.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average dental assistants salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $50,110 ($24.09 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does California compare to the national average for dental assistants?
The California median of $50,110 is 4.2% higher than the U.S. median of $48,070.
How many dental assistants work in California?
Approximately 56,220 are employed in California, per BLS OES.