Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $207,910/year ($99.96/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $124K at the entry level to $294K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $188,290 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,483/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $208K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara sits well above the national pay line for dentists, general, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $171K. Rent runs $3,483/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.42), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $140K | $123K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $202K | $175K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $158K | $141K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $125K | $118K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $124K. Mid-career wages sit at $208K. Top earners bring in $294K or more, a $170K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dentists, General salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $231K | +35% | 310 |
| North Dakota | $221K | +29% | 260 |
| Minnesota | $219K | +28% | 2,370 |
| Tennessee | $215K | +26% | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $212K | +24% | 1,660 |
| Maine | $209K | +22% | 310 |
| North Carolina | $207K | +21% | 4,140 |
| Georgia | $207K | +21% | 2,620 |
| Vermont | $205K | +20% | 240 |
| Missouri | $205K | +20% | 2,440 |
| Virginia | $197K | +15% | 4,140 |
| Arizona | $194K | +14% | 3,470 |
| Wisconsin | $194K | +13% | 2,560 |
| New York | $183K | +7% | 7,340 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +6% | 2,780 |
| Iowa | $182K | +6% | 1,240 |
| Nebraska | $180K | +5% | 790 |
| Arkansas | $179K | +5% | 1,210 |
| New Hampshire | $177K | +4% | 500 |
| Florida | $175K | +2% | 9,320 |
| New Jersey | $171K | +0% | 2,980 |
| Louisiana | $171K | -0% | 1,500 |
| West Virginia | $170K | -0% | 420 |
| Michigan | $170K | -1% | 3,620 |
| Washington | $170K | -1% | 3,240 |
| Maryland | $169K | -1% | 2,100 |
| Hawaii | $168K | -2% | 830 |
| Ohio | $167K | -2% | 2,790 |
| Montana | $167K | -2% | 380 |
| Indiana | $167K | -3% | 2,300 |
| Colorado | $166K | -3% | 2,940 |
| Oklahoma | $166K | -3% | 980 |
| California | $166K | -3% | 16,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $163K | -4% | 4,460 |
| Texas | $162K | -5% | 8,920 |
| Nevada | $162K | -5% | 1,100 |
| Rhode Island | $162K | -5% | 360 |
| Connecticut | $160K | -6% | 1,950 |
| South Carolina | $159K | -7% | 2,140 |
| South Dakota | $158K | -7% | 390 |
| Illinois | $156K | -9% | 6,940 |
| New Mexico | $155K | -9% | 780 |
| Mississippi | $144K | -16% | 740 |
| Kentucky | $134K | -22% | 790 |
| Utah | $133K | -22% | 1,020 |
| Idaho | $124K | -27% | 650 |
| Wyoming | $124K | -28% | 240 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $208K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,483/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $3,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $124K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,468/month. At HUD’s $3,483/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $208K here vs. $171K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara pays $208K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $188K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $207,910 a year, that works out to about $100 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $124,470, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $294,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $208K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,607/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 30% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dentists, general salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $188,290 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.