Dental Assistants in California
Get the information you need to know about working as a Dental Assistant.
You’re in luck! Jobs for Dental Assistants in California are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.
-
Projected employment for Dental Assistants in California is growing faster than average.
-
Dental Assistants in California earn lower salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.
What Major Will Prepare You For a Dental Assistant Career?
How Many Dental Assistants Work in California?
In 2018, there were 53,110 Dental Assistants working in the state.
There were 50,100 Dental Assistants employed in this state in 2017.
That’s growth of 3,010 jobs between 2017 and 2018.
The typical state has 4,550 Dental Assistants working in it, which means California has more Dental Assistants than average.
Job Projections for California
Jobs for Dental Assistants in this state are growing at a rate of 16.5% which is slower than the nationwide estimated projection of 19.5%.
California Annual Job Openings
The BLS estimates there will be 6,570 annual job openings, and 57,200 total jobs in 2026 for Dental Assistants in this state.
Nationwide, the prediction is 45,900 annual jobs and 396,600 total jobs in 2026.
What do Dental Assistants Make in California?
In 2018 wages for Dental Assistants ranged from $26,960 to $58,850 with $38,740 being the median annual salary.
Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $12.96 to $28.29. The median hourly rate was $18.63.
Workers in this field were paid a median of $18.06 an hour in 2017.
The hourly rate grew by $0.57.
The median salary in California is higher than the nationwide median salary.
Explore Best Ranked Schools for You
Top California Metros for Dental Assistants
The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Dental Assistants.
| Metro | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 18,070 | $36,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 6,860 | $47,420 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5,600 | $32,510 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 4,590 | $38,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,570 | $48,190 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | 3,350 | $41,960 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,240 | $34,230 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,060 | $44,650 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 950 | $36,000 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 910 | $34,790 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 760 | $52,540 |
| Modesto, CA | 660 | $36,700 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 600 | $39,050 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 570 | $46,760 |
| Salinas, CA | 510 | $43,070 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 470 | $44,150 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 420 | $32,970 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 390 | $41,090 |
| Redding, CA | 250 | $38,570 |
| Chico, CA | 240 | $43,320 |
| Madera, CA | 210 | $42,880 |
| Napa, CA | 200 | $54,140 |
| Merced, CA | 190 | $37,920 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 160 | $38,670 |
| Yuba City, CA | 160 | $37,490 |
| El Centro, CA | 130 | $39,320 |
Top States for Dental Assistants Employment
The table below shows the states where most Dental Assistants work.
| State | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| California | 53,110 | $38,740 |
| Texas | 30,290 | $35,930 |
| Florida | 19,180 | $38,790 |
| New York | 19,110 | $38,170 |
| Illinois | 12,820 | $39,790 |
| Pennsylvania | 11,130 | $37,960 |
| New Jersey | 11,010 | $41,950 |
| Ohio | 10,590 | $36,960 |
| Washington | 10,510 | $42,260 |
| Michigan | 9,960 | $36,660 |
| North Carolina | 9,420 | $41,660 |
| Georgia | 8,590 | $36,760 |
| Virginia | 8,520 | $43,520 |
| Massachusetts | 8,110 | $45,760 |
| Colorado | 7,910 | $40,170 |
| Arizona | 6,850 | $41,690 |
| Indiana | 6,090 | $39,590 |
| Tennessee | 6,070 | $37,250 |
| Wisconsin | 6,060 | $38,150 |
| Maryland | 6,020 | $41,180 |
Below are the states where Dental Assistants get paid the most:
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,220 |
| New Hampshire | $47,900 |
| District of Columbia | $46,630 |
| Alaska | $46,100 |
| Massachusetts | $45,760 |
| North Dakota | $44,320 |
| Connecticut | $44,080 |
| Vermont | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $43,990 |
| Rhode Island | $43,890 |
Related Careers in California
You may also be interested in the following careers:
| Occupation | California Employment Total |
|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 92,960 |
| Healthcare Support Workers | 12,680 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | 12,410 |
| Phlebotomists | 12,190 |
| Pharmacy Aides | 9,480 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | 6,300 |
| Medical Transcriptionists | 4,920 |
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies.
HealthcareDegreeSearch.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© HealthcareDegreeSearch.com – All Rights Reserved.