Scope of practice — what a dental assistant may do, and under what level of supervision — is set by state law and changes over time, so verify current rules with the board before relying on them.

Dental Board of California · Last verified: September 2026

Dental assistant requirements in California →

Salary data

Dental Assistant Salary in California

Statewide California figures for dental assistants.

California median

$50,110

BLS OEWS (SOC 31-9091), May 2025

California range

$46,270–$60,670

vs. national

+4%

See full salary breakdown →

Employers

Who’s Hiring Dental Assistants in California

203 employers have 638 open dental assistant roles in California, led by Pacific Dental Services with 239 openings.

Pacific Dental Services239 open Western Dental / Sonrava Health80 open Smile Brands33 open Children's Dental FunZone31 open PDS Health10 open West Coast Dental Services10 open Enable Dental6 open Choice Healthcare Services5 open

Dental Assistant Jobs by City in California

San Diego (28)Los Angeles (25)San Jose (19)Sacramento (14)Orange (12)Fontana (10)Corona (9)Bakersfield (8)Murrieta (8)Fairfield (7)Fresno (7)Lincoln (7)Rancho Cordova (7)Riverside (7)Santa Rosa (7)Carlsbad (6)Ontario (6)Oxnard (6)Rancho Cucamonga (6)Roseville (6)Temecula (6)Van Nuys (6)Fremont (5)Lakewood (5)Mission Viejo (5)Modesto (5)Oceanside (5)Redding (5)San Mateo (5)Torrance (5)West Covina (5)Beaumont (4)Escondido (4)Fullerton (4)Long Beach (4)Manteca (4)Menifee (4)Moreno Valley (4)San Marcos (4)Stockton (4)Studio City (4)Sunnyvale (4)Vacaville (4)Vista (4)Yuba City (4)Azusa (3)Berkeley (3)Beverly Hills (3)Castro Valley (3)Chico (3)Chino (3)Chula Vista (3)Crenshaw (3)Davis (3)Eastvale (3)El Cajon (3)El Cerrito (3)Folsom (3)Hesperia (3)Huntington Beach (3)Indio (3)Inglewood (3)Lake Forest (3)Lancaster (3)Oakland (3)Palm Springs (3)Perris (3)Pittsburg (3)Reseda (3)Rialto (3)San Fernando (3)San Jacinto (3)Upland (3)Visalia (3)West Los Angeles (3)Westminster (3)Wildomar (3)Woodland (3)Alhambra (2)Anaheim (2)Arcadia (2)Brentwood (2)Camarillo (2)Carson (2)Cathedral City (2)Chino Hills (2)Citrus Heights (2)Clovis (2)Costa Mesa (2)Daly City (2)Downey (2)Elk Grove (2)Encinitas (2)Glendora (2)Hacienda Heights (2)Hanford (2)Irvine (2)La Mesa (2)La Verne (2)Lodi (2)Milpitas (2)Napa (2)Newport Beach (2)Petaluma (2)Pico Rivera (2)Placerville (2)Poway (2)Rancho Mirage (2)Rancho Palos Verdes (2)Redwood City (2)Rohnert Park (2)San Dimas (2)San Juan Capistrano (2)San Ramon (2)Santa Ana (2)Santa Monica (2)Thousand Oaks (2)Tustin (2)Walnut Creek (2)Whittier (2)Winchester (2)Alameda (1)Brea (1)Burbank (1)Chatsworth (1)Claremont (1)Culver City (1)Dublin (1)Hemet (1)La Puente (1)Marina Del Rey (1)Martinez (1)Montebello (1)North Hollywood (1)Pasadena (1)San Bernardino (1)San Francisco (1)Santa Barbara (1)Santa Clara (1)Santa Maria (1)Santee (1)Sherman Oaks (1)Simi Valley (1)Tarzana (1)Turlock (1)Victorville (1)Woodland Hills (1)Antioch Burlingame Campbell Canoga Park Concord Corte Madera Cypress Del Mar El Dorado Hills El Monte Glendale Goleta Hermosa Beach Los Gatos Mountain View National City Novato Palo Alto Playa Vista Pleasant Hill Redlands San Carlos Santa Clarita Tracy Union City West Hollywood

About This Role

A dental assistant supports the dentist chairside with room prep, instruments, imaging, and patient care.

Dental practices across California hire for this role — the listings above are the live openings on DentistryHires right now.

Learn more about the dental assistant career path →

Dental Assistant Career Resources

Dental Assistant Salary in CaliforniaPay data, city breakdowns, and commission structures for California.Read guide →Dental Assistant Career GuideScope of practice, career path, and how to get started.Read guide →

More Dental Assistant Resources

Dental Assistant career guide →Dental Assistant salary guide →Dental Assistant salary in California →Dental assistant requirements in California →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

01How many dental assistant jobs are open in California right now?

As of September 2026, DentistryHires is showing 638 live dental assistant openings in California. They come from 203 employers. The listings at the top of this page are that feed.

02What does a dental assistant earn in California?

The California median for dental assistants is $50,110 a year, +4% against the national median (BLS OEWS (SOC 31-9091), May 2025).

03What licence does a dental assistant need in California?

The Dental Board of California sets the licensing rules for dental assistants in California. The summary on this page was last verified in September 2026. See the California requirements page for the current rules.

04Which employers are hiring dental assistants in California?

The California listings currently come from 203 employers, including Pacific Dental Services (239), Western Dental / Sonrava Health (80), and Smile Brands (33). 200 other employers have openings too.

05Which California cities have the most dental assistants openings?

Across the California listings on this page, the cities with the most open roles are San Diego (28), Los Angeles (25), San Jose (19), Sacramento (14), and Orange (12).