Scope of practice — what a dental hygienist 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 hygienist scope & requirements in California →

Salary data

Dental Hygienist Salary in California

Statewide California figures for dental hygienists.

California median

$124,930

BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1292), May 2025

California range

$109,730–$132,120

vs. national

+27%

See full salary breakdown →

Employers

Who’s Hiring Dental Hygienists in California

59 employers have 170 open dental hygienist roles in California, led by Pacific Dental Services with 81 openings.

Pacific Dental Services81 open Smile Brands22 open Clove Dental7 open Mosaic Dental Collective4 open Western Dental / Sonrava Health2 open Alexander Valley Healthcare1 open Bay Park Dental Group1 open Berry Family Dentistry1 open

Dental Hygienist Jobs by City in California

San Diego (13)Sacramento (5)Long Beach (4)Oxnard (4)Camarillo (3)Carlsbad (3)Citrus Heights (3)Fresno (3)Mission Viejo (3)Modesto (3)Murrieta (3)Riverside (3)Roseville (3)Torrance (3)Azusa (2)Bakersfield (2)Chino (2)Chula Vista (2)Culver City (2)Downey (2)El Cajon (2)Huntington Beach (2)Orange (2)Santa Barbara (2)Santa Rosa (2)Temecula (2)Upland (2)Vista (2)Alameda (1)Anaheim (1)Antioch (1)Castro Valley (1)Cathedral City (1)Claremont (1)Eastvale (1)El Dorado Hills (1)Elk Grove (1)Encinitas (1)Escondido (1)Fairfield (1)Glendora (1)Hanford (1)Hesperia (1)Irvine (1)Lake Forest (1)Los Angeles (1)Menifee (1)Milpitas (1)Montebello (1)Napa (1)Oakland (1)Oceanside (1)Pasadena (1)Pico Rivera (1)Poway (1)Rancho Cordova (1)Rancho Cucamonga (1)Rancho Mirage (1)Redding (1)Redlands (1)San Dimas (1)San Fernando (1)San Francisco (1)San Jacinto (1)San Jose (1)San Juan Capistrano (1)San Marcos (1)San Mateo (1)Santa Ana (1)Sherman Oaks (1)Simi Valley (1)Thousand Oaks (1)Tracy (1)Vacaville (1)Woodland (1)Alhambra Arcadia Beaumont Berkeley Beverly Hills Brea Brentwood Burbank Burlingame Campbell Canoga Park Carson Chatsworth Chico Chino Hills Clovis Concord Corona Corte Madera Costa Mesa Crenshaw Cypress Daly City Davis Del Mar Dublin El Cerrito El Monte Folsom Fontana Fremont Fullerton Glendale Goleta Hacienda Heights Hemet Hermosa Beach Indio Inglewood La Mesa La Puente La Verne Lakewood Lancaster Lincoln Lodi Los Gatos Manteca Marina Del Rey Martinez Moreno Valley Mountain View National City Newport Beach North Hollywood Novato Ontario Palm Springs Palo Alto Perris Petaluma Pittsburg Placerville Playa Vista Pleasant Hill Rancho Palos Verdes Redwood City Reseda Rialto Rohnert Park San Bernardino San Carlos San Ramon Santa Clara Santa Clarita Santa Maria Santa Monica Santee Stockton Studio City Sunnyvale Tarzana Turlock Tustin Union City Van Nuys Victorville Visalia Walnut Creek West Covina West Hollywood West Los Angeles Westminster Whittier Wildomar Winchester Woodland Hills Yuba City

About This Role

A registered dental hygienist (RDH) performs cleanings, periodontal therapy, x-rays, and preventive care under a dentist's practice.

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

Learn more about the dental hygienist career path →

Dental Hygienist Career Resources

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

More Dental Hygienist Resources

Dental Hygienist career guide →Dental Hygienist salary guide →Dental Hygienist salary in California →Dental hygienist scope & requirements in California →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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

As of November 2026, DentistryHires is showing 170 live dental hygienist openings in California. They come from 59 employers. The listings at the top of this page are that feed.

02What does a dental hygienist earn in California?

The California median for dental hygienists is $124,930 a year, +27% against the national median (BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1292), May 2025).

03What licence does a dental hygienist need in California?

The Dental Board of California sets the licensing rules for dental hygienists 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 hygienists in California?

The California listings currently come from 59 employers, including Pacific Dental Services (81), Smile Brands (22), and Clove Dental (7). 56 other employers have openings too.

05Which California cities have the most dental hygienists openings?

Across the California listings on this page, the cities with the most open roles are San Diego (13), Sacramento (5), Long Beach (4), Oxnard (4), and Camarillo (3).