Dentist salary in California
U.S. Department of Labor wage data for May 2025. California ranks 33 of 48 states by median wage for this occupation, paying 2.9% below the national median.
- 10th percentile
- $74,510
- 25th percentile
- $124,470
- Median percentile
- $165,950
- 75th percentile
- $213,260
- 90th percentile
- $272,730
- Mean
- $170,690
- Employed
- 16,770
How California compares with the rest of the country
| Area | Low (10th) | Average | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $74,510 | $170,690 | $165,950 | $272,730 |
| United States | $86,250 | $191,350 | $170,950 | $319,630 |
Dentist salary in other states
Where this comes from. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the occupation Dentists, General. Employers report the wages they actually pay, and the methodology is published — unlike self-reported salary surveys, which nobody can verify.
What it leaves out. OES counts wage-and-salary employees. Self-employed physicians and practice owners are outside its scope, and partnership distributions are not wages, so in specialties where private practice is common these figures are likely to be conservative. Bonuses and profit-sharing are excluded from the wage measure as well.