Pay by state / California
CA · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in California
California's 24,500 dental hygienists earned a mean of $128,110 in May 2025, 29% above the US mean and number 2 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $170,690 (-11% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for California. Dental assistants earned $54,710.
- 1Dental hygienists $128,110
- 2General dentists $170,690
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $54,710
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | CA mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 16,770 | 0.921 | $170,690 | $191,350 | -11% |
| Dental hygienists | 24,500 | 1.345 | $128,110 | $98,990 | +29% |
| Dental assistants | 56,220 | 3.087 | $54,710 | $50,200 | +9% |
How California ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for California.
- General dentists: number 38 of 47 published states for mean pay ($170,690, median $165,950), with 0.921 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 2 of 50 published states for mean pay ($128,110, median $124,930), with 1.345 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 10 of 50 published states for mean pay ($54,710, median $50,110), with 3.087 per 1,000 jobs.
California and the Pacific division
Among the 5 Pacific jurisdictions with published figures, California ranks 2 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $124,930 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region.
| Pacific | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $122,560 | $215,360 | $55,220 |
| California | $128,110 | $170,690 | $54,710 |
| Hawaii | $93,660 | $227,370 | $43,180 |
| Oregon | $120,470 | $240,170 | $60,110 |
| Washington | $131,530 | $195,810 | $56,680 |
Staffing in California
There are 1.5 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in California, fewer than the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $182,820 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in California.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for California. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.