Dental Hygienists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $108,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $130,530 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in San Diego earn between $121,380 and $126,820.
- $108K10th
- $121K25th
- $124KMedian
- $127K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,860 | $10,155 | $58.59 |
| Median | $123,790 | $10,316 | $59.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $121,380 | $10,115 | $58.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,820 | $10,568 | $60.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($128,110) and 23% more than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $121,860 | $123,790 | $108,320 | $130,530 | 1,940 |
| California | $128,110 | $124,930 | $102,090 | $151,920 | 24,500 |
| United States | $98,990 | $98,100 | $74,880 | $126,050 | 222,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Hygienists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $121,860, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $87,316 a year, or $7,276 a month and $3,358 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 Diego a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $121,860 buys what about $108,913 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 12th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($180,520).
- San Francisco$180,520
- San Jose$142,850
- Santa Rosa$137,050
- Napa$131,610
- Santa Maria$130,790
- Santa Cruz$129,740
- San Luis Obispo$129,690
- Vallejo$126,900
- Oxnard$123,800
- San Diego$121,860
Highest-paying cities for dental hygienists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($180,520).
- San Francisco, CA$180,520
- San Jose, CA$142,850
- Seattle, WA$141,230
- Santa Rosa, CA$137,050
- Napa, CA$131,610
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Dental Hygienists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in San Diego?
$58.59 an hour on average, and $59.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $108,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $121,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $87,316 a year ($7,276 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,860. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do dental hygienists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% more than the U.S. average for this job ($98,990).
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 29-1292; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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