Dental Hygienist salary in Salinas, CA
Dental Hygienists in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $122,370 a year ($58.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,260 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $98,100. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $124,930. There are 1.3 dental hygienists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $121,560, close to the median.
Pay range for dental hygienists in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,280 | $50.62 |
| 25th percentile | $108,080 | $51.96 |
| Median | $122,370 | $58.83 |
| 75th percentile | $127,450 | $61.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,260 | $66.47 |
| Average (mean) | $121,560 | $58.44 |
Half of dental hygienists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,197.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,098.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,706.54 |
| Weekly | $2,353.27 |
| Hourly | $58.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dental Hygienist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $146,760 | 3,780 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $139,990 | 1,620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $136,210 | 310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $135,990 | 260 |
| Napa, CA | $131,370 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $130,600 | 220 |
| Vallejo, CA | $128,570 | 270 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $126,530 | 500 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $125,670 | 220 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $125,130 | 480 |
| Yuba City, CA | $124,780 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $123,910 | 390 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $123,790 | 1,940 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $122,980 | 7,940 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,540 | 2,200 |
| Chico, CA | $118,800 | 150 |
| Redding, CA | $118,130 | 130 |
| Merced, CA | $117,400 | 100 |
| El Centro, CA | $115,870 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $114,380 | 340 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $113,160 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $105,730 | 1,860 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,730 | 530 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,240 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for dental hygienists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137,220 |
| Alaska | $132,690 |
| Washington | $131,160 |
| California | $124,930 |
| Oregon | $122,080 |
| Nevada | $115,290 |
| Colorado | $109,580 |
| Maryland | $107,830 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 |
| New York | $106,130 |
See Dental Hygienist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $410,370 | $197.29 |
| Pharmacist | $166,470 | $80.03 |
| Physicians, All Other | $384,990 | $185.09 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $122,770 | $59.02 |
| Physical Therapist | $127,120 | $61.12 |
| Dentists, General | $185,040 | $88.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $166,090 | $79.85 |
| Physician Assistant | $170,180 | $81.82 |
| Veterinarian | $163,080 | $78.41 |
| Occupational Therapist | $123,180 | $59.22 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $101,640 | $48.86 |
| Optometrist | $133,350 | $64.11 |
| Psychiatrist | $178,630 | $85.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1292. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Salinas, CA?
The median salary for dental hygienists in the Salinas, CA metro area is $122,370 a year, or $58.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental hygienists make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of dental hygienists in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $138,260 a year. The top 25% earn $127,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental hygienists in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,280 a year, and a quarter of dental hygienists earn $108,080 or less.
How many dental hygienists work in Salinas, CA?
About 240 dental hygienists are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.