Dentists, General Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Dentists, General in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $139,990 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,340 take-home, or $8,028 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dentists, general salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,332
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,679
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,030
- California income tax$8,789
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,820
- Take-home pay$96,340
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dentists, General pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,510 | $35.82 | $57,531 | $4,794 |
| 25th percentile | $75,570 | $36.33 | $58,178 | $4,848 |
| Median (50th) | $139,990 | $67.30 | $96,340 | $8,028 |
| 75th percentile | $197,510 | $94.96 | $130,364 | $10,864 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,380 | $105.47 | $144,055 | $12,005 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $139,990 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dentists, general's $96,340 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,832 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.3× the national concentration of dentists, general jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dentists, general, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #8 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix, AZ | $194,180 | $139,942 | $135,451 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $179,990 | $134,289 | $130,264 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $190,010 | $131,309 | $116,654 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $163,390 | $117,927 | $114,990 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $184,540 | $124,684 | $114,511 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $172,210 | $128,972 | $112,979 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $156,100 | $110,378 | $106,548 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $139,990 | $96,340 | $84,832 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
About the job: dentists, general
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.7% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentists, general make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median dentists, general salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $139,990 a year, or about $67.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,570 and $197,510.
What is a dentists, general’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $139,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $96,340 a year ($8,028 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,609 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a dentists, general?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $170,950. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,832 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #8 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dentists, general afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median dentists, general’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $196,760
- Pediatricians, General — $176,900
- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Pharmacist — $157,440
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560
- Dental Hygienist — $122,980
- Occupational Therapist — $122,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $119,430
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $109,740