Dental Salaries in San Jose, California

Dentist: a median of $207,910 a year ($99.96 an hour). That is $41,960 above the California dentist median of $165,950 and $36,960 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $139,990 a year ($67.30 an hour). That is $15,060 above the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $41,890 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $74,600 a year ($35.86 an hour). That is $24,490 above the California dental assistant median of $50,110 and $26,530 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 25 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $60,510 a year ($29.09 an hour). That is $13,100 above the California dental lab technician median of $47,410 and $10,900 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 3rd of the 12 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of San Jose dentists earn $124,470 to $224,040. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $124,470 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $294,290 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $169,820.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of San Jose dental hygienists earn $131,080 to $155,770. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $128,620 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $156,850 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,230.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of San Jose dental assistants earn $60,150 to $76,710. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $55,670 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $81,710 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $26,040.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of San Jose dental lab technicians earn $51,380 to $73,800. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,300 (against $36,660 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $88,930 (against $74,200 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $41,630.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the San Jose metro's 2024 price level at 110.4 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 10.4% above the national average, and housing costs (index 211.9) run 111.9% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $207,910 here buys about what $188,290 buys at national average prices — $17,340 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $139,990 here buys about what $126,780 buys at national average prices — $28,680 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $74,600 here buys about what $67,560 buys at national average prices — $19,490 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $60,510 here buys about what $54,800 buys at national average prices — $5,190 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 1,130 jobs in the metro, or 0.993 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 24% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.24).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,620 jobs in the metro, or 1.425 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

Dental Assistants: about 2,870 jobs in the metro, or 2.526 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.01).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 190 jobs in the metro, or 0.165 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 25% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.75).

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: Santa Cruz (36 mi) pays $175,950, Merced (41 mi) pays $170,200 and Modesto (50 mi) pays $167,050. San Jose's $207,910 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Santa Cruz (36 mi) pays $130,600, Merced (41 mi) pays $117,400 and Modesto (50 mi) pays $123,910. San Jose's $139,990 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Santa Cruz (36 mi) pays $58,580, Merced (41 mi) pays $48,520 and Modesto (50 mi) pays $50,170. San Jose's $74,600 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Stockton (71 mi) pays $59,110, San Francisco (78 mi) pays $60,940 and Fresno (94 mi) pays $45,010. San Jose's $60,510 is below 1 of the 3.