California Dental Hygienist Salary

Dental hygienists can expect bright futures in California. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Golden State is rated among the top states for employment opportunities and high paying jobs for this growing occupation.

As of May 2013:

• California employed the highest number of dental hygienists in the US (21,930)
• California was the second highest paying state for dental hygienists ($93,920 annually)
• The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area district employed the most dental hygienists of all metropolitan divisions in the nation (5,340)
• The San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City area district was the highest paying metropolitan division in the nation ($112,970 annually)
• The Northern Mountains Region held the highest concentration of dental hygienist jobs among all nonmetropolitan divisions in the nation (270)

Featured Programs:

Arizona State University - Online

With ASU's Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences – Pre-Dental, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to pursue an advanced degree in dentistry or a career in a dental-related field.

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs:

• Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences – Pre-Dental

Penn Foster

Penn Foster's Dental Assistant career diploma program​ will teach you on-the-job skills like dental health procedures, office operations, dentistry terminology use, and more - so you can begin pursuing your career as a Dental Assistant.​

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs:

• Dental Assistant Career Diploma

Dental Hygienist Wages and Salaries by County in California

In the 1^st Quarter of 2014, the California Employment Development Department reported that dental hygienists were earning an average annual salary of $100,312 and an average hourly wage of $48.23. During this period, the top paying counties for dental hygienists included:

• Solano County: $108,152/yr.
• Sonoma County: $106,959/yr.
• Santa Cruz County: $106,453/yr.
• Los Angeles County: $105,239/yr.
• San Benito/Santa Clara Counties: $103,053/yr.

In 2013, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics determined the wage and salary percentiles for dental hygienists employed in California were as follows:

• 10^th Percentile: $62,300/yr. or $29.94/hr.
• 25^th Percentile: $82,800/yr. or $39.80/hr.
• Median Percentile: $99,200/yr. or $47.67/hr.
• 75^th Percentile: $111,500/yr. or $53.62/hr.
• 90^th Percentile: $119,000/yr. or $57.20/hr.

Dental Hygienist Wages and Salaries by Regional District in California

A dental hygienist’s regional district of employment often impacts their salary and wage. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled the following table to outline pay differentiations for dental hygienists according to geographic placement (2013):