Dental Salaries in Merced, California

Dentist: a median of $170,200 a year ($81.83 an hour). That is $4,250 above the California dentist median of $165,950 and $750 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 16th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $117,400 a year ($56.44 an hour). That is $7,530 below the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $19,300 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 19th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,520 a year ($23.33 an hour). That is $1,590 below the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $450 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 19th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Merced dentists earn $133,850 to $212,090. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $100,330 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $274,060 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $173,730.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Merced dental hygienists earn $105,930 to $126,690. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $102,760 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $130,100 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $27,340.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Merced dental assistants earn $48,020 to $57,790. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $45,270 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,320 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,050.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Merced metro's 2024 price level at 98.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 1.7% below the national average, and housing costs (index 78.6) run 21.4% below. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $170,200 here buys about what $173,190 buys at national average prices — $2,240 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $117,400 here buys about what $119,460 buys at national average prices — $21,360 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $48,520 here buys about what $49,370 buys at national average prices — $1,300 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 40 jobs in the metro, or 0.509 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 36% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.64).

Dental Hygienists: about 100 jobs in the metro, or 1.275 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold an 11% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.89).

Dental Assistants: about 250 jobs in the metro, or 3.144 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 26% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.26).

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: Modesto (30 mi) pays $167,050, San Jose (41 mi) pays $207,910 and Stockton (59 mi) pays $168,150. Merced's $170,200 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Modesto (30 mi) pays $123,910, San Jose (41 mi) pays $139,990 and Stockton (59 mi) pays $125,130. Merced's $117,400 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Modesto (30 mi) pays $50,170, San Jose (41 mi) pays $74,600 and Stockton (59 mi) pays $49,090. Merced's $48,520 is below all 3.