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

229 employers have 548 open dental assistant roles in California, led by Pacific Dental Services with 201 openings.

Pacific Dental Services201 open Children's Dental FunZone26 open Smile Brands25 open Western Dental / Sonrava Health20 open Clove Dental11 open Mosaic Dental Collective7 open Comprehensive Mobile Care6 open West Coast Dental Services5 open

Dental Assistant Jobs by City in California

San Diego (26)Los Angeles (16)Sacramento (14)San Jose (14)Fresno (10)Rancho Cordova (10)Riverside (9)Carlsbad (8)Oxnard (8)Stockton (8)Corona (7)Roseville (7)San Francisco (7)Oceanside (6)Temecula (6)Bakersfield (5)Camarillo (5)Chino Hills (5)El Cerrito (5)Elk Grove (5)Menifee (5)Murrieta (5)Napa (5)Orange (5)Rancho Cucamonga (5)Anaheim (4)Castro Valley (4)Citrus Heights (4)Concord (4)Davis (4)Irvine (4)Manteca (4)Modesto (4)Ontario (4)Rialto (4)Santa Ana (4)Thousand Oaks (4)West Covina (4)Woodland (4)Alameda (3)Beverly Hills (3)Brentwood (3)El Dorado Hills (3)Escondido (3)Fairfield (3)Fremont (3)Huntington Beach (3)La Mesa (3)La Puente (3)Mission Viejo (3)Oakland (3)Pasadena (3)Reseda (3)San Mateo (3)Santa Monica (3)Santa Rosa (3)Torrance (3)Turlock (3)Vacaville (3)West Los Angeles (3)Alhambra (2)Cathedral City (2)Chatsworth (2)Chino (2)Chula Vista (2)Clovis (2)Eastvale (2)Folsom (2)Fontana (2)Fullerton (2)Hanford (2)Hemet (2)Lake Forest (2)Long Beach (2)Los Gatos (2)Martinez (2)Pittsburg (2)Poway (2)Rancho Palos Verdes (2)Redding (2)Redwood City (2)San Jacinto (2)San Juan Capistrano (2)Santa Barbara (2)Santa Clarita (2)Sunnyvale (2)Upland (2)Van Nuys (2)Visalia (2)Vista (2)Antioch (1)Arcadia (1)Azusa (1)Berkeley (1)Brea (1)Burbank (1)Carson (1)Culver City (1)Daly City (1)Dublin (1)El Cajon (1)Encinitas (1)Glendale (1)Hacienda Heights (1)Hesperia (1)Inglewood (1)La Verne (1)Lakewood (1)Lincoln (1)Lodi (1)Marina Del Rey (1)Milpitas (1)Montebello (1)Palo Alto (1)Perris (1)Petaluma (1)Pico Rivera (1)Pleasant Hill (1)Rohnert Park (1)San Bernardino (1)San Carlos (1)San Dimas (1)San Fernando (1)San Marcos (1)Santa Clara (1)Santee (1)Sherman Oaks (1)Simi Valley (1)Tracy (1)Tustin (1)Walnut Creek (1)Westminster (1)Whittier (1)Wildomar (1)Woodland Hills (1)Beaumont Burlingame Campbell Canoga Park Chico Claremont Corte Madera Costa Mesa Crenshaw Cypress Del Mar Downey El Monte Glendora Goleta Hermosa Beach Indio Lancaster Moreno Valley Mountain View National City Newport Beach North Hollywood Novato Palm Springs Placerville Playa Vista Rancho Mirage Redlands San Ramon Santa Maria Studio City Tarzana Union City Victorville West Hollywood Winchester Yuba City

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 November 2026, DentistryHires is showing 548 live dental assistant openings in California. They come from 229 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 229 employers, including Pacific Dental Services (201), Children's Dental FunZone (26), and Smile Brands (25). 226 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 (26), Los Angeles (16), Sacramento (14), San Jose (14), and Fresno (10).