Dental Salaries in Riverside, California

Dentist: a median of $125,230 a year ($60.21 an hour). That is $40,720 below the California dentist median of $165,950 and $45,720 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 24th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $105,730 a year ($50.83 an hour). That is $19,200 below the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $7,630 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 23rd of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $57,020 a year ($27.42 an hour). That is $9,610 above the California dental lab technician median of $47,410 and $7,410 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 5th of the 12 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,500 a year ($23.32 an hour). That is $1,610 below the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $430 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 20th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Riverside dentists earn $107,700 to $175,540. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $98,370 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $217,880 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $119,510.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Riverside dental hygienists earn $103,650 to $120,610. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $102,140 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $126,940 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,800.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Riverside dental lab technicians earn $45,200 to $59,710. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,780 (against $36,660 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $73,090 (against $74,200 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $35,310.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Riverside dental assistants earn $46,980 to $56,910. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,210 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $58,590 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,380.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Riverside metro's 2024 price level at 106.4 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 6.4% above the national average, and housing costs (index 129.3) run 29.3% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $125,230 here buys about what $117,650 buys at national average prices — $53,300 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $105,730 here buys about what $99,330 buys at national average prices — $1,230 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $57,020 here buys about what $53,570 buys at national average prices — $3,960 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,500 here buys about what $45,560 buys at national average prices — $2,510 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,560 jobs in the metro, or 0.908 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 14% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.14).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,860 jobs in the metro, or 1.086 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 24% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.76).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 240 jobs in the metro, or 0.138 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 37% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.63).

Dental Assistants: about 5,240 jobs in the metro, or 3.05 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 22% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.22).

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: Los Angeles (121 mi) pays $139,990, Las Vegas, Nevada (132 mi) pays $162,200 and Oxnard (171 mi) pays $178,150. Riverside's $125,230 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Los Angeles (121 mi) pays $122,980, Las Vegas, Nevada (132 mi) pays $109,210 and Oxnard (171 mi) pays $126,530. Riverside's $105,730 is below all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Los Angeles (121 mi) pays $46,460, Las Vegas, Nevada (132 mi) pays $47,460 and Oxnard (171 mi) pays $46,300. Riverside's $57,020 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Los Angeles (121 mi) pays $46,900, Las Vegas, Nevada (132 mi) pays $46,890 and Oxnard (171 mi) pays $58,930. Riverside's $48,500 is below 1 of the 3.