Dental Hygienists Salary in California (2024)
The median dental hygienists salary in California is $121,080/year, based on May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). That is 28.5% above the national median of $94,260.
Wage table
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual mean | $127,090 |
| Annual median | $121,080 |
| 10th percentile | $56,330 |
| 25th percentile | $106,480 |
| 75th percentile | $129,880 |
| 90th percentile | $137,460 |
| Hourly median | $58.21/hr |
| Employment (state) | 22,940 |
What the numbers mean
The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is wide: the highest-paid 10% of dental hygienists in California earn about 2.4× what the lowest-paid 10% earn. That spread usually reflects differences in experience, employer type, and local cost of living within the state — the median is a more representative figure than the mean for a "typical" salary, since a small number of very high earners can pull the mean upward.
Higher-paying states for Dental Hygienists
See the full Dental Hygienists salary by state ranking for all 52 states with available data.
Frequently asked questions
Is dental hygienists pay in California above the national average?
The median dental hygienists salary in California is $121,080/year, which is 28.5% above the national median of $94,260/year (May 2024 BLS OEWS data).
What is the median dental hygienists salary in California?
$121,080/year, based on May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
How much do the highest-paid dental hygienists in California earn?
The 90th percentile dental hygienists in California earns $137,460/year or more, compared to $56,330/year or less for the 10th percentile.
Which states pay dental hygienists more than California?
Washington pays more ($125,370/year median), along with 2 other states listed below.