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Dental Assistants Salary in California

What Dental Assistants earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 7 counties.

Average in CA
$53,732
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
4 of 14
published states
Workers in state
55,700
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
7 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Dental Assistants pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$64,390$51,830$14,739Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$46,900$38,902$467Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Dental Assistants in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$64,390$51,830$14,739
2Contra Costa County, CA$64,390$51,830$14,739
3San Francisco County, CA$64,390$51,830$6,183
4San Mateo County, CA$64,390$51,830$6,183
5Marin County, CA$64,390$51,830$6,183
6Los Angeles County, CA$46,900$38,902$467
7Orange County, CA$46,900$38,902−$2,029

Dental Assistants pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Dental Assistants in California is $53,732, based on 55,700 workers. Among the 14 states with published data, that ranks number 4. The BLS national median for the occupation is $48,070, so California averages 11.8% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $64,390 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $46,900 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $17,490 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Dental Assistants in California

We compare 7 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $14,739. In Orange County, CA the basics cost $2,029 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 6 of the 7 counties.

Dental Assistants in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Dental Assistants are New Hampshire ($58,291), Washington ($57,824), Massachusetts ($55,632) and Indiana ($48,945).

Frequently asked questions: Dental Assistants in California

How much do Dental Assistants earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $53,732, from $46,900 to $64,390 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Dental Assistants?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($14,739). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $14,739.