Dental Salaries in Sacramento, California

Dentist: a median of $170,500 a year ($81.97 an hour). That is $4,550 above the California dentist median of $165,950 and $450 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 15th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $122,540 a year ($58.92 an hour). That is $2,390 below the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $24,440 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 15th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $58,580 a year ($28.16 an hour). That is $8,470 above the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $10,510 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 7th of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $50,690 a year ($24.37 an hour). That is $3,280 above the California dental lab technician median of $47,410 and $1,080 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 7th of the 12 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Sacramento dentists earn $124,200 to $218,300. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $121,630 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $266,300 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $144,670.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Sacramento dental hygienists earn $122,250 to $126,660. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $119,720 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $127,610 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $7,890.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Sacramento dental assistants earn $47,930 to $63,330. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $45,830 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $70,630 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,800.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Sacramento dental lab technicians earn $46,470 to $62,000. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $42,420 (against $36,660 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $76,390 (against $74,200 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $33,970.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Sacramento metro's 2024 price level at 106.7 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 6.7% above the national average, and housing costs (index 130.2) run 30.2% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $170,500 here buys about what $159,840 buys at national average prices — $11,110 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $122,540 here buys about what $114,880 buys at national average prices — $16,780 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $58,580 here buys about what $54,920 buys at national average prices — $6,850 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $50,690 here buys about what $47,520 buys at national average prices — $2,090 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 970 jobs in the metro, or 0.896 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 12% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.12).

Dental Hygienists: about 2,200 jobs in the metro, or 2.037 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 42% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.42).

Dental Assistants: about 3,100 jobs in the metro, or 2.867 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 15% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.15).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 230 jobs in the metro, or 0.215 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 3% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.97).

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: Yuba City (37 mi) pays $175,850, Stockton (61 mi) pays $168,150 and Vallejo (62 mi) pays $183,000. Sacramento's $170,500 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Yuba City (37 mi) pays $124,780, Stockton (61 mi) pays $125,130 and Vallejo (62 mi) pays $128,570. Sacramento's $122,540 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Yuba City (37 mi) pays $50,030, Stockton (61 mi) pays $49,090 and Vallejo (62 mi) pays $59,000. Sacramento's $58,580 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Stockton (61 mi) pays $59,110, San Francisco (98 mi) pays $60,940 and San Jose (132 mi) pays $60,510. Sacramento's $50,690 is below all 3.