Dental Hygienist Salary in California: $132,410 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median dental hygienist pay sits at $132,410/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1292. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $117,073 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($150,100), Fremont ($146,789), San Francisco ($146,760).

Dental Hygienist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California dental hygienist salary overview (2026)

$132,410

Avg Median Salary

$63.66

Avg Hourly Rate

26,969

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In California, the projected average median salary for dental hygienists in 2026 is $132,410, exceeding the national median of $102,946 by 28.6%. This significant salary difference reflects California's higher cost of living and strong demand for dental services. The highest paying city, Oakland, offers a salary of $157,515, while Visalia, the lowest, has a salary of $103,093. The gap between these cities, approximately $54,422, is driven by factors such as urban demand, local living costs, and the concentration of healthcare facilities. California has specific licensing requirements for dental hygienists, which include graduation from an accredited program and passing the required examinations. The state’s scope of practice laws are more permissive than in other areas, allowing hygienists to perform a wider range of duties. With a projected annual growth rate of 4.94% in this field, the job market for dental hygienists looks strong, driven by an increasing emphasis on oral health and preventative care. In 2026, there are expected to be about 26,969 employed dental hygienists in the state, highlighting an ongoing demand for professionals in this occupation.

California Dental Hygienist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$97,230

avg across 158 cities

Median

$132,410

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$148,849

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $59,606 (lowest entry-level) to $213,955 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$132,410

National Median

$102,946

California dental hygienists earn 28.62% more than the national median (+$29,464/year difference).

California Dental Hygienist Salary Distribution (2026)

Dental Hygienist salaries in California range from $97,230 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $148,849 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $132,410. The California median is $29,464 above the US national median of $102,946. The average hourly rate is $63.66/hr. Approximately 26,969 dental hygienists are employed across 158 cities.

2020 BLS Actual

$110,205

2025 BLS Actual

$126,177

2026 Current Est.

$132,410

2020–2027 Growth

+26.1%

Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in California (2020–2027)

2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2020	$110,205	Actual
2021	$105,763	Actual
2022	$110,535	Actual
2023	$120,616	Actual
2024	$113,979	Actual
2025	$126,177	Actual
2026(current)	$132,410	Estimated
2027	$138,951	Projected

Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 14.5% from $110,205 (2020) to $126,177 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $138,951 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,746 (26.08%) from 2020.

Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.94% CAGR derived from 6-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $75.72/hr

$157,515

+18.96% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $74.06/hr

$154,040

+16.34% vs avg

San Francisco

3,780 employed · $74.05/hr

$154,010

+16.31% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $72.28/hr

$150,355

+13.55% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $71.81/hr

$149,367

+12.81% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$103,093	-22.14%	$49.56
Fresno	$106,755	-19.38%	$51.33
Riverside	$110,953	-16.20%	$53.34
San Bernardino	$111,091	-16.10%	$53.40
Ontario	$112,448	-15.08%	$54.07

Best Value Cities for Dental Hygienists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for dental hygienists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$157,515	113.1	$139,271
Fremont	$154,040	113.1	$136,198
San Francisco	$154,010	115.613	$133,212
San Jose	$146,906	110.423	$133,039
Sunnyvale	$150,355	113.1	$132,940

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$97,230	$46.75	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$132,410	$63.66	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$148,849	$71.56	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$157,515	$75.72	$114,516	$213,955	78
2	Fremont	$154,040	$74.06	$106,695	$212,212	43
3	San Francisco	$154,010	$74.05	$114,867	$164,315	3,780
4	Sunnyvale	$150,355	$72.28	$112,695	$198,615	26
5	Santa Clara	$149,367	$71.81	$110,380	$189,705	32
6	San Jose	$146,906	$70.62	$134,974	$164,598	1,620
7	Santa Rosa	$142,939	$68.73	$136,432	$159,068	310
8	Santa Maria	$142,708	$68.61	$111,457	$158,491	260
9	Petaluma	$141,572	$68.06	$112,077	$182,984	12
10	Napa	$137,860	$66.28	$115,539	$157,966	100
11	Santa Ana	$137,639	$66.18	$97,062	$182,633	69
12	Santa Cruz	$137,052	$65.89	$112,160	$152,793	220
13	Fontana	$135,092	$64.95	$95,382	$179,323	32
14	Irvine	$134,943	$64.87	$100,985	$182,819	72
15	Vallejo	$134,921	$64.86	$114,154	$155,762	270
16	Pomona	$134,285	$64.56	$100,112	$172,391	36
17	Simi Valley	$134,212	$64.53	$100,343	$176,787	23
18	Escondido	$134,180	$64.51	$100,403	$171,687	31
19	Fairfield	$133,938	$64.39	$99,701	$170,874	25
20	Fullerton	$133,445	$64.16	$98,145	$174,535	25
21	Daly City	$133,329	$64.10	$97,876	$169,183	20
22	El Monte	$133,287	$64.08	$98,314	$174,003	20
23	Vista	$133,214	$64.04	$98,142	$173,407	24
24	Concord	$133,183	$64.03	$98,070	$173,648	29
25	Clovis	$132,983	$63.93	$97,606	$167,680	19
26	Garden Grove	$132,847	$63.87	$96,755	$172,517	37
27	Temecula	$132,815	$63.86	$97,215	$167,468	25
28	Oxnard	$132,781	$63.84	$113,209	$134,628	500
29	Santa Clarita	$132,727	$63.81	$99,860	$180,552	41
30	Lancaster	$132,553	$63.73	$96,608	$180,118	40
31	Inglewood	$132,553	$63.73	$96,608	$180,118	21
32	Corona	$132,385	$63.65	$96,086	$179,112	24
33	Richmond	$132,364	$63.64	$95,639	$170,896	25
34	Rialto	$132,301	$63.60	$96,025	$170,686	17
35	Thousand Oaks	$132,244	$63.58	$103,785	$175,835	32
36	Torrance	$132,133	$63.53	$95,108	$178,684	26
37	Elk Grove	$131,881	$63.40	$94,927	$168,939	25
38	San Luis Obispo	$131,878	$63.40	$111,436	$154,766	220
39	Oceanside	$131,850	$63.39	$94,854	$168,748	28
40	Whittier	$131,811	$63.37	$101,076	$165,938	22
41	San Rafael	$131,800	$63.36	$100,916	$165,820	11
42	Rancho Cucamonga	$131,682	$63.31	$94,469	$168,274	46
43	Hayward	$131,608	$63.27	$94,300	$176,557	23
44	Woodland	$131,575	$63.26	$100,372	$169,957	15
45	Buena Park	$131,554	$63.25	$100,458	$165,425	20
46	Encinitas	$131,543	$63.24	$100,433	$165,055	16
47	Downey	$131,535	$63.24	$93,737	$176,653	22
48	Dublin	$131,461	$63.21	$100,236	$165,120	14
49	Redlands	$131,421	$63.18	$100,137	$169,778	16
50	Anaheim	$131,352	$63.15	$94,375	$176,609	51
51	Chino	$131,348	$63.15	$99,829	$164,411	17
52	Stockton	$131,311	$63.13	$110,271	$139,822	480
53	Westminster	$131,307	$63.13	$99,328	$169,401	21
54	Santa Monica	$131,297	$63.12	$99,707	$164,241	20
55	San Mateo	$131,283	$63.12	$93,557	$175,458	21
56	Tulare	$131,245	$63.10	$99,584	$164,072	17
57	San Buenaventura	$131,199	$63.08	$103,260	$175,516	19
58	Mission Viejo	$131,111	$63.04	$99,398	$163,967	23
59	Moreno Valley	$131,110	$63.04	$96,741	$175,027	53
60	Pleasanton	$131,091	$63.03	$99,349	$168,346	16
61	Yuba City	$130,944	$62.95	$109,725	$137,482	60
62	Pasadena	$130,905	$62.93	$99,349	$174,183	35
63	Santee	$130,813	$62.89	$98,687	$162,987	9
64	Glendale	$130,695	$62.84	$102,076	$173,818	36
65	Mountain View	$130,628	$62.81	$98,246	$162,381	13
66	Pittsburg	$130,618	$62.80	$97,687	$167,112	19
67	Novato	$130,577	$62.78	$97,990	$161,878	11
68	Costa Mesa	$130,528	$62.75	$98,473	$173,254	23
69	Berkeley	$130,391	$62.69	$101,365	$164,349	23
70	Huntington Beach	$130,360	$62.67	$101,684	$177,202	50
71	Jurupa Valley	$130,244	$62.62	$101,414	$171,964	24
72	Hemet	$130,206	$62.60	$97,245	$161,002	14
73	Union City	$130,196	$62.60	$97,221	$160,969	11
74	West Covina	$130,181	$62.59	$101,266	$171,668	25
75	Chino Hills	$130,144	$62.57	$96,966	$165,194	21
76	Chula Vista	$130,056	$62.52	$89,765	$170,758	51
77	Modesto	$130,031	$62.51	$108,560	$140,242	390
78	Gilroy	$129,959	$62.48	$96,661	$173,193	10
79	San Diego	$129,905	$62.46	$113,671	$136,978	1,940
80	San Marcos	$129,887	$62.45	$95,959	$172,952	17
81	Tustin	$129,774	$62.39	$95,693	$164,330	18
82	San Ramon	$129,764	$62.39	$96,201	$163,964	19
83	Eastvale	$129,640	$62.32	$95,909	$163,557	10
84	Murrieta	$129,636	$62.32	$100,126	$169,934	25
85	Vacaville	$129,636	$62.32	$100,126	$175,096	15
86	Brentwood	$129,579	$62.29	$95,765	$171,919	13
87	Hesperia	$129,517	$62.27	$95,619	$171,712	14
88	Lake Elsinore	$129,506	$62.26	$95,595	$171,346	18
89	Lodi	$129,499	$62.26	$101,507	$165,867	14
90	Long Beach	$129,483	$62.25	$90,301	$178,881	89
91	Folsom	$129,462	$62.24	$94,982	$163,334	17
92	Citrus Heights	$129,342	$62.19	$95,209	$162,913	19
93	El Cajon	$129,225	$62.12	$94,960	$168,910	18
94	San Clemente	$129,187	$62.11	$94,715	$170,284	10
95	Bellflower	$129,136	$62.08	$94,727	$170,444	11
96	Palmdale	$129,078	$62.06	$98,708	$172,890	29
97	La Mirada	$129,077	$62.06	$101,786	$157,482	10
98	Los Angeles	$129,055	$62.04	$59,606	$144,093	7,940
99	Apple Valley	$129,054	$62.04	$94,534	$161,642	19
100	Menifee	$129,015	$62.03	$98,692	$168,216	20
101	Yucaipa	$128,961	$62.00	$94,318	$169,861	14
102	Norwalk	$128,952	$62.00	$98,417	$167,670	22
103	Rancho Cordova	$128,838	$61.95	$94,030	$169,122	20
104	Carlsbad	$128,819	$61.94	$99,706	$170,146	23
105	Montebello	$128,714	$61.88	$93,742	$169,042	16
106	Compton	$128,663	$61.86	$93,490	$160,369	25
107	Sacramento	$128,593	$61.83	$125,634	$133,914	2,200
108	Porterville	$128,570	$61.81	$93,407	$160,399	11
109	Lompoc	$128,554	$61.81	$100,626	$155,805	8
110	Salinas	$128,415	$61.74	$110,481	$145,090	240
111	Hawthorne	$128,354	$61.70	$92,904	$159,698	13
112	Antioch	$128,312	$61.68	$96,947	$170,334	17
113	Burbank	$128,302	$61.68	$92,866	$165,861	22
114	Roseville	$128,064	$61.57	$100,358	$169,900	35
115	Alhambra	$128,005	$61.54	$102,335	$166,697	13
116	Livermore	$128,005	$61.54	$98,075	$166,697	21
117	Orange	$127,966	$61.53	$96,283	$164,759	21
118	South Gate	$127,963	$61.52	$101,712	$166,561	25
119	Victorville	$127,934	$61.51	$96,211	$164,321	30
120	West Sacramento	$127,891	$61.48	$101,541	$166,325	9
121	Poway	$127,858	$61.47	$98,917	$153,910	8
122	San Leandro	$127,686	$61.39	$101,442	$169,980	23
123	Indio	$127,541	$61.32	$100,707	$165,175	23
124	Lake Forest	$127,541	$61.32	$100,707	$165,175	14
125	Carson	$127,315	$61.21	$100,692	$169,079	21
126	Rocklin	$127,294	$61.20	$100,643	$169,010	10
127	Newport Beach	$127,078	$61.10	$100,131	$163,660	12
128	Redwood City	$127,068	$61.09	$99,975	$163,221	13
129	Turlock	$127,037	$61.08	$99,903	$167,836	17
130	Manteca	$126,996	$61.05	$99,935	$163,393	13
131	Perris	$126,986	$61.05	$99,391	$163,359	12
132	Madera	$126,883	$61.00	$99,668	$162,699	8
133	Baldwin Park	$126,656	$60.90	$99,004	$161,962	19
134	Palo Alto	$126,656	$60.90	$99,134	$166,907	15
135	Lakewood	$126,605	$60.87	$99,012	$162,120	19
136	Beaumont	$126,234	$60.69	$97,624	$160,918	9
137	Tracy	$126,204	$60.68	$98,069	$160,495	14
138	Alameda	$126,163	$60.66	$97,972	$164,965	12
139	Laguna Niguel	$126,132	$60.64	$97,382	$165,186	16
140	Milpitas	$126,070	$60.61	$97,755	$164,661	16
141	Camarillo	$125,802	$60.48	$97,128	$159,521	13
142	Oakley	$125,751	$60.46	$93,818	$159,493	8
143	Davis	$125,720	$60.45	$96,807	$158,854	14
144	Upland	$125,628	$60.39	$96,206	$163,542	18
145	La Habra	$125,442	$60.31	$96,160	$162,537	16
146	Lynwood	$125,391	$60.29	$96,168	$158,197	16
147	Chico	$124,669	$59.94	$105,622	$134,512	150
148	Redding	$123,966	$59.60	$109,274	$134,711	130
149	Brea	$123,251	$59.26	$97,955	$155,633	10
150	Merced	$123,200	$59.23	$107,836	$136,527	100
151	El Centro	$121,594	$58.46	$108,393	$137,303	40
152	Bakersfield	$120,030	$57.71	$101,886	$127,271	340
153	Hanford	$118,750	$57.10	$107,238	$136,065	80
154	Ontario	$112,448	$54.07	$82,520	$146,248	42
155	San Bernardino	$111,091	$53.40	$77,121	$152,986	33
156	Riverside	$110,953	$53.34	$107,186	$133,211	1,860
157	Fresno	$106,755	$51.33	$90,374	$135,341	530
158	Visalia	$103,093	$49.56	$102,337	$127,712	200

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore dental hygienist hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new dental hygienists.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced dental hygienists.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Compare Cities in California

Los Angeles, CAvsSan Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSacramento, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Diego, CA Los Angeles, CAvsRiverside, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Jose, CA Los Angeles, CAvsFresno, CA

View all comparisons →

Explore More Dental Hygienist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dental hygienists make in California in 2026?

The average median dental hygienist salary in California is $132,410/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $103,093 in Visalia to $157,515 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 28.62% above the national median of $102,946. The state employs approximately 26,969 dental hygienists.

What is the highest paying city for dental hygienists in California?

Oakland offers the highest dental hygienist salary in California at $157,515/year ($75.72/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($157,515), Fremont ($154,040), San Francisco ($154,010). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for dental hygiene services, and competition among employers for licensed dental hygienists.

How does California dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?

California's average dental hygienist salary of $132,410 is 28.62% above the national median of $102,946 in 2026. The state employs approximately 26,969 dental hygienists across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level dental hygienist salary in California?

Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $97,230/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $59,606 in lower-paying areas to $136,432 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many dental hygienists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 26,969 dental hygienists across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of dental hygienists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the dental hygiene field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for dental hygienists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for dental hygienists in California, with an adjusted salary of $139,271 (nominal: $157,515, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH

Dental Career Analyst

Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.

Clinically reviewed by Amanda Doucette, RDHData verified by David Oh

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 dental hygienist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more dental hygienistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (2020–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental hygienists (SOC 29-1292).

Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: May 21, 2026

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