Dentists, General · California

Dentists, General Salary in California

Dentists, General in California earn a median annual wage of $165,950 —2.9% below the national median of $170,950. That ranks CA #33 of 47 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$165,950
Median hourly
$79.79
Entry level (P10)
$74,510
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$272,730
90th percentile
Employment
16,770
0.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-2.9%
U.S. $170,950

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$74,510
$124,470
$165,950
$213,260
$74,510$165,950$272,730
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $165,950.

Employment is 1.15× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for dentists, general

All 47 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Alaska$230,990$111.053101.18
2North Dakota$220,660$106.092600.76
3Minnesota$219,200$105.392,3701.01
4Tennessee$215,290$103.512,2000.84
5Oregon$211,690$101.771,6601.05
6Maine$209,200$100.583100.60
7North Carolina$207,000$99.524,1401.05
8Georgia$206,760$99.412,6200.67
9Vermont$204,960$98.542401.00
10Missouri$204,960$98.542,4401.04

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$140,270$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,750$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$55,110$45,750
Physicians, All Other$281,590$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$76,010$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$168,520$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do dentists, general make in California?

The median annual wage for dentists, general in California is $165,950, or $79.79 per hour. That is 2.9% below the national median of $170,950.

What is the entry-level dentists, general salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $74,510 per year ($35.82/hour). The 25th percentile is $124,470.

How many people work as dentists, general in California?

About 16,770 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for dentists, general?

California ranks #33 of 47 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.15x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays dentists, general the most?

Alaska has the highest median wage at $230,990 per year, followed by North Dakota ($220,660) and Minnesota ($219,200).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes