The average salary for a dental assistant in California is around $47,140 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $47,140.
Wages typically start from $36,860 and go up to $60,460.
41% below national average Updated in 2021
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$29.07 per hour
$60,460 per year
Senior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$23.17 per hour
$48,190 per year
Mid-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$22.66 per hour
$47,140 per year
Junior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$18.00 per hour
$37,440 per year
Starting level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$17.72 per hour
$36,860 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,790 |
| Massachusetts | $48,000 |
| Oregon | $47,850 |
| Alaska | $47,720 |
| North Dakota | $47,660 |
| New Hampshire | $47,600 |
| District of Columbia | $47,550 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 |
| New York | $47,250 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 |
| California | $47,140 |
| New Jersey | $46,970 |
| Vermont | $46,910 |
| Maryland | $46,830 |
| Washington | $46,640 |
| Maine | $46,630 |
| Iowa | $46,230 |
| Colorado | $46,170 |
| North Carolina | $45,810 |
| South Dakota | $45,530 |
| Delaware | $45,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,780 |
| Illinois | $43,220 |
| Arizona | $39,480 |
| Wisconsin | $39,090 |
| Ohio | $39,040 |
| Virginia | $38,450 |
| Wyoming | $38,410 |
| Indiana | $38,280 |
| Nebraska | $38,100 |
| South Carolina | $38,040 |
| Florida | $37,790 |
| Tennessee | $37,760 |
| Michigan | $37,640 |
| Oklahoma | $37,520 |
| Kansas | $37,490 |
| Missouri | $37,470 |
| Georgia | $37,460 |
| Hawaii | $37,430 |
| Texas | $37,360 |
| Guam | $37,300 |
| New Mexico | $37,250 |
| Montana | $37,220 |
| Nevada | $37,140 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,120 |
| Idaho | $37,100 |
| Kentucky | $37,080 |
| Utah | $36,810 |
| Arkansas | $36,450 |
| Alabama | $36,300 |
| West Virginia | $35,970 |
| Mississippi | $30,820 |
| Louisiana | $30,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $17,630 |
How do dental assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Dental assistants earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than medical appliance technicians but more than veterinary assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical appliance technician salary | $47K |
| Pharmacy technician salary | $47K |
| Endoscopy technician salary | $47K |
| Phlebotomist salary | $47K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $46K |
| Dental assistant salary | $47K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $46K |
| Medical assistant salary | $39K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $36K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $36K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)