Dental Salaries in Modesto, California

Dentist: a median of $167,050 a year ($80.31 an hour). That is $1,100 above the California dentist median of $165,950 and $3,900 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 20th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $123,910 a year ($59.57 an hour). That is $1,020 below the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $25,810 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 12th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $50,170 a year ($24.12 an hour). That is $60 above the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $2,100 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 14th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Modesto dentists earn $128,390 to $223,280. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $95,950 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $280,730 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $184,780.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Modesto dental hygienists earn $107,630 to $128,140. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $103,450 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $133,640 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $30,190.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Modesto dental assistants earn $47,230 to $59,680. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,400 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,460 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,060.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Modesto metro's 2024 price level at 104.1 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 4.1% above the national average, and housing costs (index 108.5) run 8.5% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $167,050 here buys about what $160,460 buys at national average prices — $10,490 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $123,910 here buys about what $119,020 buys at national average prices — $20,920 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $50,170 here buys about what $48,190 buys at national average prices — $120 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 160 jobs in the metro, or 0.796 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.00).

Dental Hygienists: about 390 jobs in the metro, or 2.011 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 40% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.40).

Dental Assistants: about 890 jobs in the metro, or 4.549 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 82% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.82).

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: Merced (30 mi) pays $170,200, Stockton (30 mi) pays $168,150 and San Jose (50 mi) pays $207,910. Modesto's $167,050 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Merced (30 mi) pays $117,400, Stockton (30 mi) pays $125,130 and San Jose (50 mi) pays $139,990. Modesto's $123,910 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Merced (30 mi) pays $48,520, Stockton (30 mi) pays $49,090 and San Jose (50 mi) pays $74,600. Modesto's $50,170 is below 1 of the 3.