Dentists, General Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
The median pay for a dentists, general in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $202,520/year ($97.37/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $106K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $184,277 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 36.4% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $203K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
About dentists, generals
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $106K. Mid-career wages sit at $203K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Dentists, General pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $231K | +34% | 220 |
| Alaska | $231K | +34% | 260 |
| Delaware | $225K | +30% | 360 |
| Minnesota | $210K | +21% | 2,500 |
| Maine | $209K | +21% | 450 |
| Arizona | $207K | +20% | 2,930 |
| Wisconsin | $207K | +20% | 2,160 |
| North Dakota | $201K | +16% | 210 |
| Washington | $198K | +15% | 3,100 |
| Georgia | $196K | +13% | 3,260 |
| Connecticut | $193K | +12% | 1,840 |
| North Carolina | $191K | +11% | 4,410 |
| Maryland | $189K | +10% | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $186K | +8% | 1,180 |
| Virginia | $183K | +6% | 3,890 |
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dentists, generals make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $202,520 a year - that works out to about $97.37 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $105,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $203K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,318/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 37.2% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (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 $184,277 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.