Dentist Salary in California (2026)
Dentists in California earn a median of $210,000/yr ($808/day), based on 97 DirectDental job posts.
DirectDental job posts
$210,000/yr $808/day
Median
Middle 50% of posts: $189,000/yr to $234,000/yr
Based on pay listed in 97 jobs posted on DirectDental between November 2025 and November 2026. Listed pay may differ from final offers and doesn't include benefits.
Government data (BLS)
$179,000/yr $687/day
Median
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Government data covers all employers, not only those hiring on DirectDental.
Recent dentist jobs in California
- Dentist Confidential Dental Practice, Los Angeles, CA $600 - $800 / day
- Dentist Confidential Dental Practice, Spring Valley, CA $650 / day
- Associate Dentist San Marcos Dental Studio, San Marcos, CA $1,100 - $1,700 / day
- Dentist Confidential Dental Practice, Los Angeles, CA $600 - $800 / day
- Dentist Confidential Dental Practice, Spring Valley, CA $650 / day
- Dentist Morningside Dental Group, Fontana, CA $750 / day
How California compares
- National median $247,000/yr
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist make in California?
Dentists in California earn a median of $210,000/yr ($808/day), based on 97 DirectDental job posts.
What is the pay range for dentists in California?
The middle half of DirectDental job posts pay $189,000/yr to $234,000/yr.
How does California compare to the national average?
The median in California is $210,000/yr (DirectDental job posts), compared with $247,000/yr nationally (DirectDental job posts).
How we calculate this
- DirectDental figures use jobs published in the last 12 months with listed pay, not counting temp shifts.
- Each job counts once, at the middle of its pay range or its exact amount. Yearly pay is divided by 2,080 hours, monthly pay by 173 hours, and daily pay by 8 hours. Repeat posts of the same job count once.
- We show DirectDental figures only when a place has at least 10 jobs; otherwise the page shows government data.
- Last updated November 1, 2026.
- These figures are estimates for general information and are not a guarantee of pay.