How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Eastern Sierra, CA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Eastern Sierra, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across California.
BLS OES May 2024 · Eastern Sierra
A typical Dental Assistant in Eastern Sierra, California earns $27.57 per hour, or $57,340 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,778 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $43,990, and the top 10% of earners make over $75,500.
That pay is 14% above the California figure of $50,110 and 19% above the national figure of $48,070. About 210 Dental Assistants work in Eastern Sierra.
Dental Assistant pay in Eastern Sierra at a glance
- Typical pay is $27.57 an hour, or $57,340 a year.
- That is 14% above the California figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $43,990; the top 10% make over $75,500.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Eastern Sierra?
Pay in Eastern Sierra runs from entry-level positions at around $21.15 an hour to more than $36.30 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the California and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Eastern Sierra
| Career stage | Eastern Sierra | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $43,990$21.15 an hour | $38,790$18.65 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $48,210$23.18 an hour | $46,270$22.25 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $57,340$27.57 an hour | $50,110$24.09 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $60,940$29.30 an hour | $60,670$29.17 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $75,500$36.30 an hour | $73,700$35.43 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2024 (the latest vintage BLS published for this area; state and national columns are May 2025) · city figures cover Eastern Sierra as BLS defines it
How Eastern Sierra compares with other California cities
Santa Clara pays Dental Assistants the most in California at $74,600 a year, $17,260 more than Eastern Sierra. The lowest-paying area in the state is Visalia at $46,630.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Eastern Sierra | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara | $74,600 | $35.86 | +30% | 2,870 |
| 2 | Oakland metro incl. Fremont · San Francisco | $64,390 | $30.96 | +12% | 7,530 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa metro incl. Petaluma | $60,590 | $29.13 | +6% | 680 |
| 4 | Napa | $60,270 | $28.97 | +5% | 230 |
| 5 | Vallejo | $59,000 | $28.37 | +3% | 630 |
| 6 | Ventura metro incl. Thousand Oaks · Oxnard | $58,930 | $28.33 | +3% | 1,250 |
| 7 | Folsom metro incl. Sacramento · Roseville | $58,580 | $28.16 | +2% | 3,100 |
| 8 | Watsonville metro incl. Santa Cruz | $58,580 | $28.16 | +2% | 370 |
| 9 | Carlsbad metro incl. Chula Vista · San Diego | $58,120 | $27.94 | +1% | 4,260 |
| 10 | San Luis Obispo metro incl. Paso Robles | $57,150 | $27.47 | 0% | 440 |
| 11 | Salinas | $56,790 | $27.30 | -1% | 570 |
| 12 | El Centro | $56,050 | $26.95 | -2% | 130 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara metro incl. Santa Maria | $51,310 | $24.67 | -11% | 610 |
| 14 | Modesto | $50,170 | $24.12 | -13% | 890 |
| 15 | Fresno | $50,040 | $24.06 | -13% | 1,360 |
| 16 | Yuba City | $50,030 | $24.05 | -13% | 240 |
| 17 | Hanford metro incl. Corcoran | $49,980 | $24.03 | -13% | 200 |
| 18 | Lodi metro incl. Stockton | $49,090 | $23.60 | -14% | 780 |
| 19 | Merced | $48,520 | $23.33 | -15% | 250 |
| 20 | Ontario metro incl. Riverside · San Bernardino | $48,500 | $23.32 | -15% | 5,240 |
| 21 | Redding | $48,490 | $23.31 | -15% | 240 |
| 22 | Chico | $48,170 | $23.16 | -16% | 290 |
| 23 | Delano metro incl. Bakersfield | $48,100 | $23.12 | -16% | 990 |
| 24 | Anaheim metro incl. Los Angeles · Long Beach | $46,900 | $22.55 | -18% | 21,090 |
| 25 | Visalia | $46,630 | $22.42 | -19% | 480 |
Every metro area in California with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · California typical pay $50,110
Is Eastern Sierra a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Eastern Sierra earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $57,340 a year, 19% above the national figure.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Eastern Sierra, CA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Eastern Sierra earns $57,340 a year, or $27.57 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $43,990 and the top 10% earn over $75,500.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Eastern Sierra?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Eastern Sierra is $27.57. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $21.15, and the top 10% earn over $36.30 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Eastern Sierra?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Eastern Sierra typically offer around $21.15 an hour, or $43,990 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Eastern Sierra higher than in the rest of California?
- Eastern Sierra pay is 14% above the California figure of $50,110 a year. Santa Clara pays the most in California at $74,600.