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

103 employers have 236 open dental hygienist roles in California, led by Pacific Dental Services with 96 openings.

Pacific Dental Services96 open Smile Brands12 open PDS Health10 open Smile Brands Inc.4 open Gentle Dental3 open Gold Coast Dental3 open Jet Dental3 open Mosaic Dental Collective3 open

Dental Hygienist Jobs by City in California

San Diego (17)Sacramento (6)Carlsbad (4)Temecula (4)Upland (4)Beaumont (3)Corona (3)Escondido (3)Fresno (3)Fullerton (3)Irvine (3)Lancaster (3)Long Beach (3)Poway (3)Rancho Cucamonga (3)Rohnert Park (3)San Francisco (3)Torrance (3)Vista (3)Alameda (2)Citrus Heights (2)Davis (2)Eastvale (2)Huntington Beach (2)Los Gatos (2)Manteca (2)Menifee (2)Napa (2)Pasadena (2)Pleasant Hill (2)Redding (2)San Jose (2)Tustin (2)Walnut Creek (2)Whittier (2)Winchester (2)Alhambra (1)Azusa (1)Bakersfield (1)Brea (1)Brentwood (1)Castro Valley (1)Chatsworth (1)Chino Hills (1)Chula Vista (1)Concord (1)Culver City (1)Downey (1)Dublin (1)El Cajon (1)El Cerrito (1)El Dorado Hills (1)El Monte (1)Elk Grove (1)Encinitas (1)Glendora (1)Hacienda Heights (1)Hanford (1)Hemet (1)Hesperia (1)Indio (1)La Mesa (1)La Puente (1)Lake Forest (1)Los Angeles (1)Milpitas (1)Modesto (1)Montebello (1)Murrieta (1)Newport Beach (1)North Hollywood (1)Oakland (1)Oceanside (1)Ontario (1)Orange (1)Petaluma (1)Pico Rivera (1)Pittsburg (1)Rancho Mirage (1)Rancho Palos Verdes (1)Reseda (1)Rialto (1)Riverside (1)Roseville (1)San Dimas (1)San Fernando (1)San Jacinto (1)San Ramon (1)Santa Rosa (1)Sherman Oaks (1)Simi Valley (1)Studio City (1)Tracy (1)Turlock (1)Union City (1)Victorville (1)Woodland (1)Anaheim Antioch Arcadia Berkeley Beverly Hills Burbank Burlingame Camarillo Campbell Canoga Park Carson Cathedral City Chico Chino Claremont Clovis Corte Madera Costa Mesa Crenshaw Cypress Daly City Del Mar Fairfield Folsom Fontana Fremont Glendale Goleta Hermosa Beach Inglewood La Verne Lakewood Lincoln Lodi Marina Del Rey Martinez Mission Viejo Moreno Valley Mountain View National City Novato Oxnard Palm Springs Palo Alto Perris Placerville Playa Vista Rancho Cordova Redlands Redwood City San Bernardino San Carlos San Juan Capistrano San Marcos San Mateo Santa Ana Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Clarita Santa Maria Santa Monica Santee Stockton Sunnyvale Tarzana Thousand Oaks Vacaville Van Nuys Visalia West Covina West Hollywood West Los Angeles Westminster Wildomar 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 September 2026, DentistryHires is showing 236 live dental hygienist openings in California. They come from 103 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 103 employers, including Pacific Dental Services (96), Smile Brands (12), and PDS Health (10). 100 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 (17), Sacramento (6), Carlsbad (4), Temecula (4), and Upland (4).