Dentists, General salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Dentists, General in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $158,160 a year ($76.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,710 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $259,320 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $170,950. Pay here is 5% lower than the California statewide median of $165,950. There are 1.1 dentists, general per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $168,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dentists, general in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,600 | $43.56 |
| 25th percentile | $124,520 | $59.86 |
| Median | $158,160 | $76.04 |
| 75th percentile | $222,040 | $106.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $259,320 | $124.67 |
| Average (mean) | $168,540 | $81.03 |
Half of dentists, general 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 | $13,180 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,590 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,083.08 |
| Weekly | $3,041.54 |
| Hourly | $76.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $158,160 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dentists, General salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $222,430 | 60 |
| El Centro, CA | $217,830 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $214,950 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $207,910 | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $202,060 | 2,090 |
| Fresno, CA | $188,510 | 340 |
| Salinas, CA | $185,040 | 170 |
| Vallejo, CA | $183,000 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $178,150 | 310 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $175,950 | 90 |
| Yuba City, CA | $175,850 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $172,120 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170,940 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $170,630 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $170,500 | 970 |
| Merced, CA | $170,200 | 40 |
| Redding, CA | $170,060 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $169,160 | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $168,150 | 200 |
| Modesto, CA | $167,050 | 160 |
| Chico, CA | $163,520 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $139,990 | 6,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $125,230 | 1,560 |
Highest-paying states for dentists, general
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 |
| Oregon | $211,690 |
| Maine | $209,200 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 |
| Georgia | $206,760 |
| Missouri | $204,960 |
| Vermont | $204,960 |
See Dentists, General pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| Physicians, All Other | $323,050 | $155.31 |
| Pharmacist | $165,130 | $79.39 |
| Physical Therapist | $113,850 | $54.74 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $163,860 | $78.78 |
| Dental Hygienist | $123,790 | $59.52 |
| Occupational Therapist | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $119,690 | $57.55 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $105,040 | $50.50 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,160 | $79.41 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,530 | $142.08 |
| Veterinarian | $159,750 | $76.80 |
| Chiropractor | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Pediatricians, General | $262,650 | $126.28 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1021. 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 dentists, general make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for dentists, general in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $158,160 a year, or $76.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $259,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dentists, general make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of dentists, general in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $259,320 a year. The top 25% earn $222,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for dentists, general in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,600 a year, and a quarter of dentists, general earn $124,520 or less.
How many dentists, general work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 1,710 dentists, general are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.