Dental Salaries in Los Angeles, California

Oral Surgeon: a median of $313,780 a year ($150.85 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Los Angeles oral surgeons, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown. Treat the Los Angeles oral surgeon figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $139,990 a year ($67.30 an hour). That is $25,960 below the California dentist median of $165,950 and $30,960 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 23rd of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $122,980 a year ($59.12 an hour). That is $1,950 below the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $24,880 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 14th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $46,900 a year ($22.55 an hour). That is $3,210 below the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $1,170 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 24th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $46,460 a year ($22.34 an hour). That is $950 below the California dental lab technician median of $47,410 and $3,150 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 10th of the 12 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Oral Surgeon: the middle half of Los Angeles oral surgeons earn $313,780 to $313,780. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $221,220. The top tenth earn over $398,580. The gap between the two is $177,360.

Dentist: the middle half of Los Angeles dentists earn $75,570 to $197,510. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $74,510 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $219,380 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $144,870.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Los Angeles dental hygienists earn $107,570 to $130,570. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $56,800 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $137,310 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $80,510.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Los Angeles dental assistants earn $45,190 to $50,600. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,050 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $58,900 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $20,850.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Los Angeles dental lab technicians earn $36,660 to $60,230. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,660 (against $36,660 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $73,020 (against $74,200 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $36,360.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Los Angeles metro's 2024 price level at 113.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 13.6% above the national average, and housing costs (index 170.4) run 70.4% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Oral Surgeon: $313,780 here buys about what $276,300 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $139,990 here buys about what $123,270 buys at national average prices — $47,680 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $122,980 here buys about what $108,290 buys at national average prices — $10,190 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $46,900 here buys about what $41,300 buys at national average prices — $6,770 below the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $46,460 here buys about what $40,910 buys at national average prices — $8,700 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 6,300 jobs in the metro, or 1.004 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 26% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.26). BLS rates this Los Angeles count as imprecise (relative standard error 28.1%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 7,940 jobs in the metro, or 1.265 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 12% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.88).

Dental Assistants: about 21,090 jobs in the metro, or 3.363 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 35% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.35).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 2,710 jobs in the metro, or 0.432 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 95% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.95).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Oxnard (57 mi) pays $178,150, Riverside (121 mi) pays $125,230 and Hanford (164 mi) pays $222,430. Los Angeles's $139,990 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Oxnard (57 mi) pays $126,530, Riverside (121 mi) pays $105,730 and Hanford (164 mi) pays $113,160. Los Angeles's $122,980 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Oxnard (57 mi) pays $58,930, Riverside (121 mi) pays $48,500 and Hanford (164 mi) pays $49,980. Los Angeles's $46,900 is below all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Oxnard (57 mi) pays $46,300, Riverside (121 mi) pays $57,020 and Fresno (209 mi) pays $45,010. Los Angeles's $46,460 is below 1 of the 3.