Dental Hygienists Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $120,300 +27.6% vs national
Median hourly $57.84
10th percentile $107,050
90th percentile $129,700
Employed locally 2,000
National median $94,260

Compare Dental Hygienists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Dental Hygienists
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $107,050
    25th
    $107,440
    50th (median)
    $120,300
    75th
    $126,840
    90th
    $129,700

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Hygienists salary vs area income 118% Median Dental Hygienists salary is 18% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Dental Hygienists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $146,760
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $135,010
    Vallejo, CA $134,450
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $132,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $131,890
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $131,610

    Nearby metros — Dental Hygienists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $146,760
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $135,010
    Vallejo, CA $134,450
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $132,010
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $131,610
    Napa, CA $127,840

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses$133,090
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$77,280
    Physicians, All Other$323,050
    Pharmacy Technicians$49,540
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$70,240
    Pharmacists$163,860

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Hygienists make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Hygienists in San Diego, CA is $57.84, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $62.76 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Dental Hygienists salaries?

    The median Dental Hygienists salary in San Diego, CA is 27.6% above the national median of $94,260. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Dental Hygienists in San Diego?

    Entry-level Dental Hygienists (10th percentile) earn around $107,050 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $107,440.