Dentist Salary in California
Median annual base pay is $195,000 across 191 reported Dentist salaries in California.
Median hourly rate is $95.92 per hour.
Updated 23 September 2025
Salary Distribution (By Percentile)
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $148,034 | $175,000 | $195,000 | $208,000 | $250,000 |
Top Cities in California
| City | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $258,800 | 7 |
| San Diego | $209,600 | 8 |
| Hanford | $208,832 | 7 |
| Bakersfield | $208,000 | 5 |
| Fairfield | $208,000 | 7 |
| Sacramento | $208,000 | 8 |
| Visalia | $190,000 | 5 |
| Fresno | $187,000 | 10 |
| Los Angeles | $177,500 | 11 |
| Stockton | $171,000 | 5 |
Top Employers in California
| Employer | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| CaliDental | $234,000 | 8 |
| Dalla Dental Group | $220,480 | 7 |
| Sonrava Health | $208,000 | 30 |
| Family Healthcare Network | $202,991 | 17 |
| United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley | $185,000 | 13 |
| Elica Health Centers | $180,000 | 5 |
| Pacific Dental Services | $166,400 | 22 |
By Practice Setting
| Setting | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Community Health Center / FQHC | $185,000 | 20 |
Salary by Level
| Level | Common titles | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead / Expert | Dentist · Orthodontist · Pediatric Dentist | $195,000 | 163 |
| Manager | Lead Dentist · Supervising Dentist · Assistant Dental Director | — | 1 |
| Director | Dental Director · Managing Clinical Director · Regional Dental Director | — | 1 |
How They're Paid
| Model | Median | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $199,514 | 85 |
| Annual Salary | $187,000 | 84 |
Dentist salaries in other states
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Common questions
How much does a Dentist make in California?
The median Dentist salary in California is $195,000 per year, based on 191 reported salaries.
What is the hourly rate for a Dentist in California?
The median reported rate is $95.92 per hour.
Which city in California pays Dentists the most?
San Jose has the highest median at $258,800 per year, of the cities with enough reports to publish a median.
How much does a Dentist at the Lead / Expert level make in California?
$195,000 per year at the median — $0 above the Dentist median in California.
Which employers pay Dentists the most in California?
Of the employers with enough reports to publish a median, CaliDental is highest at $234,000 per year.