Dental Salaries in San Francisco, California

Dentist: a median of $202,060 a year ($97.14 an hour). That is $36,110 above the California dentist median of $165,950 and $31,110 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 5th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $146,760 a year ($70.56 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the San Francisco dental hygienist wage estimate at ±23.1%. Treat the San Francisco dental hygienist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Assistant: a median of $64,390 a year ($30.96 an hour). That is $14,280 above the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $16,320 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $60,940 a year ($29.30 an hour). That is $13,530 above the California dental lab technician median of $47,410 and $11,330 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 12 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of San Francisco dentists earn $150,860 to $245,100. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $119,750 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $322,930 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $203,180.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of San Francisco dental hygienists earn $130,200 to $154,920. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $109,460. The top tenth earn over $156,580. The gap between the two is $47,120.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of San Francisco dental assistants earn $58,760 to $73,010. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,800 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $80,660 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $32,860.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of San Francisco dental lab technicians earn $49,550 to $72,430. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,750 (against $36,660 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $76,710 (against $74,200 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,960.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the San Francisco metro's 2024 price level at 115.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 15.6% above the national average, and housing costs (index 194.7) run 94.7% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $202,060 here buys about what $174,770 buys at national average prices — $3,820 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $146,760 here buys about what $126,940 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Assistant: $64,390 here buys about what $55,690 buys at national average prices — $7,620 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $60,940 here buys about what $52,710 buys at national average prices — $3,100 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 2,090 jobs in the metro, or 0.879 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 10% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.10).

Dental Hygienists: about 3,780 jobs in the metro, or 1.591 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold an 11% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.11).

Dental Assistants: about 7,530 jobs in the metro, or 3.172 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 27% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.27).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 280 jobs in the metro, or 0.117 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 47% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.53).

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: Vallejo (39 mi) pays $183,000, Santa Cruz (55 mi) pays $175,950 and Stockton (56 mi) pays $168,150. San Francisco's $202,060 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Vallejo (39 mi) pays $128,570, Santa Cruz (55 mi) pays $130,600 and Stockton (56 mi) pays $125,130.

Dental Assistant: Vallejo (39 mi) pays $59,000, Santa Cruz (55 mi) pays $58,580 and Stockton (56 mi) pays $49,090. San Francisco's $64,390 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Stockton (56 mi) pays $59,110, San Jose (78 mi) pays $60,510 and Sacramento (98 mi) pays $50,690. San Francisco's $60,940 is above all 3.