Dental Salaries in Santa Cruz, California

Dentist: a median of $175,950 a year ($84.59 an hour). That is $10,000 above the California dentist median of $165,950 and $5,000 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 10th of the 24 California metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $130,600 a year ($62.79 an hour). That is $5,670 above the California dental hygienist median of $124,930 and $32,500 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 6th 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.

Dentist: the middle half of Santa Cruz dentists earn $175,170 to $177,210. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $106,520 (against $74,510 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $225,460 (against $272,730 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $118,940.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Santa Cruz dental hygienists earn $122,180 to $145,600. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $106,880 (against $102,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $145,600 (against $151,920 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $38,720.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Santa Cruz dental assistants earn $50,500 to $63,070. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $49,170 (against $38,790 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,800 (against $73,700 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $23,630.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Santa Cruz metro's 2024 price level at 109.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 9.9% above the national average, and housing costs (index 164.3) run 64.3% above. California as a whole sits at 110.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $175,950 here buys about what $160,110 buys at national average prices — $10,840 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $130,600 here buys about what $118,840 buys at national average prices — $20,740 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $58,580 here buys about what $53,300 buys at national average prices — $5,230 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 0.928 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 16% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.16).

Dental Hygienists: about 220 jobs in the metro, or 2.274 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 59% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.59).

Dental Assistants: about 370 jobs in the metro, or 3.752 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 50% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.50).

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: San Jose (36 mi) pays $207,910, San Francisco (55 mi) pays $202,060 and Modesto (67 mi) pays $167,050. Santa Cruz's $175,950 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: San Jose (36 mi) pays $139,990, San Francisco (55 mi) pays $146,760 and Modesto (67 mi) pays $123,910. Santa Cruz's $130,600 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: San Jose (36 mi) pays $74,600, San Francisco (55 mi) pays $64,390 and Modesto (67 mi) pays $50,170. Santa Cruz's $58,580 is below 2 of the 3.