Dental Assistants pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,710 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in San Jose earn between $60,150 and $76,710.
- $56K10th
- $60K25th
- $75KMedian
- $77K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,150 | $5,929 | $34.21 |
| Median | $74,600 | $6,217 | $35.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,710 | $6,392 | $36.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Dental assistants in San Jose earn 30% more than the California average ($54,710) and 42% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +55% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $71,150 | $74,600 | $55,670 | $81,710 | 2,870 |
| California | $54,710 | $50,110 | $38,790 | $73,700 | 56,220 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in San Jose
On the average salary of $71,150, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $56,264 a year, or $4,689 a month and $2,164 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Jose a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $71,150 buys what about $64,434 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 22.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Jose$71,150
- San Francisco$64,900
- Santa Rosa$62,500
- Vallejo$61,120
- Napa$59,570
- Santa Cruz$58,970
- Sacramento$57,840
- Hanford$57,500
- El Centro$56,840
- Salinas$55,700
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in San Jose: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in San Jose?
$34.21 an hour on average, and $35.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in San Jose?
About $56,264 a year ($4,689 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,150. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 42% more than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9091; area San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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