Dentists, General Salary in San Diego, CA

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

Median annual salary $176,970 +2.4% vs national
Median hourly $85.08
10th percentile $97,040
90th percentile —
Employed locally 1,950
National median $172,790

Compare Dentists, General salary & buying power

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

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Dentists, General
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San Diego, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $97,040
    25th
    $132,830
    50th (median)
    $176,970
    75th
    $217,490

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Dentists, General salary vs area income 173% Median Dentists, General salary is 73% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Dentists, General

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area $319,140
    Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area $318,010
    Anchorage, AK $233,910
    North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $233,590
    Vermont $230,990
    Alaska $230,830

    Nearby metros — Dentists, General salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hanford-Corcoran, CA $228,700
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $221,070
    El Centro, CA $217,830
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $216,830
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $210,140
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $205,380

    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 Dentists, General make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Dentists, General in San Diego, CA is $85.08, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $124.67 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Dentists, General salaries?

    The median Dentists, General salary in San Diego, CA is 2.4% above the national median of $172,790. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Dentists, General in San Diego?

    Entry-level Dentists, General (10th percentile) earn around $97,040 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $132,830.