Dentists, General salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Dentists, General in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $175,950 a year ($84.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $106,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,460 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $170,950. Pay here is 6% higher than the California statewide median of $165,950. There are 0.93 dentists, general per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $172,560, close to the median.
Pay range for dentists, general in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $106,520 | $51.21 |
| 25th percentile | $175,170 | $84.22 |
| Median | $175,950 | $84.59 |
| 75th percentile | $177,210 | $85.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,460 | $108.39 |
| Average (mean) | $172,560 | $82.96 |
Half of dentists, general 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 | $14,662.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,331.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,767.31 |
| Weekly | $3,383.65 |
| Hourly | $84.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dentists, General salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $222,430 | 60 |
| El Centro, CA | $217,830 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $214,950 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $207,910 | 1,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $202,060 | 2,090 |
| Fresno, CA | $188,510 | 340 |
| Salinas, CA | $185,040 | 170 |
| Vallejo, CA | $183,000 | 140 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $178,150 | 310 |
| Yuba City, CA | $175,850 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $172,120 | 220 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170,940 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $170,630 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $170,500 | 970 |
| Merced, CA | $170,200 | 40 |
| Redding, CA | $170,060 | 60 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $169,160 | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $168,150 | 200 |
| Modesto, CA | $167,050 | 160 |
| Chico, CA | $163,520 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $158,160 | 1,710 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $139,990 | 6,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $125,230 | 1,560 |
Highest-paying states for dentists, general
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 |
| Oregon | $211,690 |
| Maine | $209,200 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 |
| Georgia | $206,760 |
| Missouri | $204,960 |
| Vermont | $204,960 |
See Dentists, General pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,190 | $80.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $305,610 | $146.93 |
| Pharmacist | $161,940 | $77.86 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Veterinarian | $164,820 | $79.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,030 | $76.46 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,670 | $57.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $130,420 | $62.70 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,880 | $64.85 |
| Acupuncturist | $91,350 | $43.92 |
| Optometrist | $122,150 | $58.73 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $103,760 | $49.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1021. 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 dentists, general make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for dentists, general in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $175,950 a year, or $84.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $106,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dentists, general make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of dentists, general in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $225,460 a year. The top 25% earn $177,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for dentists, general in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $106,520 a year, and a quarter of dentists, general earn $175,170 or less.
How many dentists, general work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 90 dentists, general are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.