LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Dental Assistants in San Jose, CA · Generated June 13, 2026
Dental Assistants Salary in San Jose, CA $74,600/yr
$74,600
Mean: $71,150
~$58,188 est. take-home
$35.86
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$2,297/mo
48%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$60,150
Median
$74,600
75th %
$76,710
Median is in the 87th percentile of the typical range
Dental Assistants in other CA cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in CA.
About Dental Assistants salaries in San Jose, CA
Dental Assistants in San Jose, CA earn a median of $74,600 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $71,150, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most dental assistants in this area earn between $60,150 and $76,710. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $35.86 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
8% growth. More people are keeping their teeth into old age, which means more preventive and cosmetic dental work, which means dentists need more assistants. States are also expanding what dental assistants are legally allowed to do.
Worth knowing: Radiography certification and expanded function credentials are the quick wins. They're relatively easy to get and directly increase your hourly rate by $3–$5 in most markets.
Dental Assistants Jobs in San Jose, CA
Median: $74,600/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a dental assistants in San Jose?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $74,600. The average (mean) is $71,150, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a dental assistants make per hour in San Jose?▾
About $35.86/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for dental assistants in San Jose?▾
The middle 50% earn between $60,150 and $76,710. Below $60,150 is typically entry-level; above $76,710 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $74,600 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $74,600 | $58,188 |
| Monthly | $6,217 | $4,849 |
| Biweekly | $2,869 | $2,238 |
| Weekly | $1,435 | $1,119 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $35.86 | $27.98 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $40.99 | $31.97 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $47.82 | $37.3 |
| Daily (8h) | $287 | $224 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Dental Assistants: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for dental assistants, based on BLS median salary data.
Related Occupations in San Jose
Similar roles in the same field, ranked by national average salary.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Dental Assistants salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for dental assistants across all states.
- All CA salary data — every occupation we cover in CA, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Dental Assistants in Minneapolis, MN — the top-paying city for dental assistants in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of San Jose.
- Medical Assistants salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $43,163.