Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in California is $165,950/year ($79.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $273K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $156,350 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 25.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $166K get you in California?
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in California
Dentists, general pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $166K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $273K or more, a $198K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in California
24 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran | $222K | +34% | 60 |
| El Centro | $218K | +31% | 40 |
| Visalia | $215K | +30% | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $208K | +25% | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $202K | +22% | 2,090 |
| Fresno | $189K | +14% | 340 |
| Salinas | $185K | +12% | 170 |
| Vallejo | $183K | +10% | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $178K | +7% | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $176K | +6% | 90 |
| Yuba City | $176K | +6% | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $172K | +4% | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $171K | +3% | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $171K | +3% | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $171K | +3% | 970 |
| Merced | $170K | +3% | 40 |
| Redding | $170K | +2% | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $169K | +2% | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $168K | +1% | 200 |
| Modesto | $167K | +1% | 160 |
| Chico | $164K | -1% | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $158K | -5% | 1,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $140K | -16% | 6,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $125K | -25% | 1,560 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 metros
Compare to other states
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $166K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,471/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $166K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
California pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $156K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in California?
The median is $165,950 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,510, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $272,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,384/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 26.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dentists, general salary is worth about $156,350 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.