Dental Assistant Salary in San Jose, CA
Dental Assistants in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $74,600 a year — 55% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,585 take-home, or $4,799 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental assistant salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,582
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,625
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,082
- California income tax$2,756
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$970
- Take-home pay$57,585
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Assistant pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,670 | $26.76 | $44,797 | $3,733 |
| 25th percentile | $60,150 | $28.92 | $48,070 | $4,006 |
| Median (50th) | $74,600 | $35.87 | $57,585 | $4,799 |
| 75th percentile | $76,710 | $36.88 | $58,874 | $4,906 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,710 | $39.28 | $61,881 | $5,157 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,600 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental assistant's $57,585 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,150 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dental Assistant jobs are about as common in San Jose, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for dental assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 36 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $72,370 | $56,345 | $53,753 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $74,600 | $57,585 | $52,150 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $62,040 | $52,029 | $46,817 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $64,390 | $51,141 | $44,235 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $58,580 | $46,923 | $43,989 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $59,890 | $45,891 | $43,531 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $49,590 | $41,444 | $43,456 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $48,190 | $39,573 | $42,762 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 36 metros →
About the job: dental assistants
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +7.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Dental Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $64,390
- Sacramento, CA — $58,580
- San Diego, CA — $58,120
- Riverside, CA — $48,500
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in San Jose, CA?
The median dental assistant salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $74,600 a year, or about $35.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,150 and $76,710.
What is a dental assistant’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $74,600 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $57,585 a year ($4,799 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,726 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Pay here is 55% above the national median of $48,070. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,150 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #2 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental assistant afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median dental assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Medical Assistant — $61,940
- Nursing Assistant — $56,840
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,640