Dentists, General pay in California
In California, the median pay for dentists, general is $79.79 an hour ($165,950 a year). About 16,770 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($170,950). California ranks 33rd of 47 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for dentists, general in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $35.82 | $74,510 |
| 25% of workers | $59.84 | $124,470 |
| Half of workers (median) | $79.79 | $165,950 |
| 75% of workers | $102.53 | $213,260 |
| 90% of workers | $131.12 | $272,730 |
Dentists, General pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran | $222,430 | 60 |
| El Centro | $217,830 | 40 |
| Visalia | $214,950 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $207,910 | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $202,060 | 2,090 |
| Fresno | $188,510 | 340 |
| Salinas | $185,040 | 170 |
| Vallejo | $183,000 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $178,150 | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $175,950 | 90 |
| Yuba City | $175,850 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $172,120 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $170,940 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $170,630 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $170,500 | 970 |
| Merced | $170,200 | 40 |
| Redding | $170,060 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $169,160 | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $168,150 | 200 |
| Modesto | $167,050 | 160 |
| Chico | $163,520 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $158,160 | 1,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $139,990 | 6,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $125,230 | 1,560 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for dentists, general
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +5.7% over ten years, faster than average · about 4,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Dental Assistants | $50,110 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 |
| Dental Hygienists | $124,930 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $400,150 |
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Pharmacists | $164,610 |
| Physical Therapists | $124,190 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $168,520 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.