The average salary for a dental assistant in California is around $50,110 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $50,110.
Wages typically start from $38,790 and go up to $73,700.
33% below national average Updated in 2025
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$35.43 per hour
$73,700 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$29.17 per hour
$60,670 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$24.09 per hour
$50,110 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$22.25 per hour
$46,270 per year
10th percentile
Starting level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$18.65 per hour
$38,790 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 |
| Maine | $60,070 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 |
| Oregon | $59,490 |
| Washington | $58,090 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 |
| Alaska | $57,710 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 |
| Vermont | $52,760 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 |
| California | $50,110 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 |
| Arizona | $49,000 |
| Michigan | $48,820 |
| Indiana | $48,670 |
| Maryland | $48,620 |
| Illinois | $48,610 |
| Iowa | $48,430 |
| Colorado | $48,340 |
| New York | $48,110 |
| Ohio | $47,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 |
| Florida | $47,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 |
| Nevada | $47,110 |
| Georgia | $46,840 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 |
| Montana | $46,680 |
| Virginia | $46,670 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 |
| Missouri | $45,970 |
| Idaho | $45,880 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 |
| Texas | $45,430 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 |
| Alabama | $39,080 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 |
| Utah | $37,760 |
| Kansas | $37,490 |
| Guam | $37,300 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,120 |
| 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 phlebotomists but more than rehabilitation counselors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Phlebotomist salary | $56K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $54K |
| Endoscopy technician salary | $49K |
| Massage therapist salary | $46K |
| Medical assistant salary | $50K |
| Dental assistant salary | $50K |
| Orderly salary | $50K |
| Psychiatric aide salary | $48K |
| Sex educator salary | $47K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $44K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)