Pay range in California
| Hourly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49.08/hr | $102,086 |
| 25th percentile | $52.76/hr | $109,741 |
| Median (50th) | $60.06/hr | $124,925 |
| 75th percentile | $63.52/hr | $132,122 |
| 90th percentile | $73.04/hr | $151,923 |
| Mean | $61.59/hr | $128,107 |
Pay by city in California
| Metro area | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $70.56/hr | $146,765 | 3,780 |
| San Jose | $67.30/hr | $139,984 | 1,620 |
| San Diego | $59.52/hr | $123,802 | 1,940 |
| Los Angeles | $59.12/hr | $122,970 | 7,940 |
| Sacramento | $58.92/hr | $122,554 | 2,200 |
California against its neighbours
| Median hourly | Median annual | |
|---|---|---|
| California | $60.06/hr | $124,925 |
| Oregon | $58.69/hr | $122,075 |
| Nevada | $55.43/hr | $115,294 |
| Arizona | $48.56/hr | $101,005 |
| United States | $47.16/hr | $98,093 |
What stands out in California
- 24,500 hygienists work in California, 11.0% of the 222,740 employed nationwide.
- Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average (BEA, 2024), so the median hourly rate buys about what $54.24/hr would at average US prices.
- The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is $23.96 an hour: a new graduate at $49.08/hr and a top earner at $73.04/hr can work in the same state.
- Of the metro areas we track, San Francisco pays the most at a $70.56/hr median, and Sacramento the least at $58.92/hr.
- It pays a higher median than every neighbouring state (Oregon, Nevada and Arizona).
- Hygienists in California are licensed by the Dental Hygiene Board of California. Licence, permit and scope-of-practice rules are set there; check them before you relocate or hire from out of state.
Hiring a hygienist in California?
An offer at the California median, $60.06/hr, is already matched or beaten by the pay of half the hygienists you would be recruiting from. An offer at the 75th percentile, $63.52/hr, beats three in four local paychecks. If the budget stops short of that, the offer has to win on something else the candidate cares about, such as guaranteed hours or the schedule.