Dental Assistants pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,460 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Modesto earn between $47,230 and $59,680.
- $38K10th
- $47K25th
- $50KMedian
- $60K75th
- $62K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,130 | $4,428 | $25.54 |
| Median | $50,170 | $4,181 | $24.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,230 | $3,936 | $22.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,680 | $4,973 | $28.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Modesto earn about the same as the California average ($54,710) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $53,130 | $50,170 | $38,400 | $62,460 | 890 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $53,130, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $43,490 a year, or $3,624 a month and $1,673 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 Modesto a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $53,130 buys what about $51,034 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 8.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 16th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($71,150).
- 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
- Modesto$53,130
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 Modesto: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Modesto?
$25.54 an hour on average, and $24.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Modesto?
About $43,490 a year ($3,624 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,130. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do dental assistants earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 1.82, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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