Dental Assistant salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Dental Assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $51,310 a year ($24.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,250 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $48,070. Pay here is 2% higher than the California statewide median of $50,110. There are 3.0 dental assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| 25th percentile | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| Median | $51,310 | $24.67 |
| 75th percentile | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Average (mean) | $54,120 | $26.02 |
Half of dental assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,275.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,137.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,973.46 |
| Weekly | $986.73 |
| Hourly | $24.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,310 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dental Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,600 | 2,870 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,390 | 7,530 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | 680 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 | 230 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,000 | 630 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,930 | 1,250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,580 | 3,100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,580 | 370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,120 | 4,260 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,150 | 440 |
| Salinas, CA | $56,790 | 570 |
| El Centro, CA | $56,050 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,170 | 890 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,040 | 1,360 |
| Yuba City, CA | $50,030 | 240 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,980 | 200 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,090 | 780 |
| Merced, CA | $48,520 | 250 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,500 | 5,240 |
| Redding, CA | $48,490 | 240 |
| Chico, CA | $48,170 | 290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | 990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,900 | 21,090 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,630 | 480 |
Highest-paying states for dental assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 |
| Maine | $60,070 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 |
| Oregon | $59,490 |
| Washington | $58,090 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 |
| Alaska | $57,710 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 |
See Dental Assistant pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $57,560 | $27.68 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Phlebotomist | $60,290 | $28.98 |
| Massage Therapist | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $51,010 | $24.53 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $85,150 | $40.94 |
| Orderly | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $86,440 | $41.56 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for dental assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $51,310 a year, or $24.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental assistants make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of dental assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $64,250 a year. The top 25% earn $61,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental assistants in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,410 a year, and a quarter of dental assistants earn $47,250 or less.
How many dental assistants work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 610 dental assistants are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.