Dental Assistant Salary in Sacramento, CA
Dental Assistants in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $58,580 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,923 take-home, or $3,910 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental assistant salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,850
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,632
- Medicare (1.45%)$849
- California income tax$1,564
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$762
- Take-home pay$46,923
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Assistant pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,830 | $22.03 | $37,586 | $3,132 |
| 25th percentile | $47,930 | $23.04 | $39,143 | $3,262 |
| Median (50th) | $58,580 | $28.16 | $46,923 | $3,910 |
| 75th percentile | $63,330 | $30.45 | $50,388 | $4,199 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,630 | $33.96 | $55,162 | $4,597 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,580 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental assistant's $46,923 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,989 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for dental assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #5 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 Jose, CA — $74,600
- San Francisco, CA — $64,390
- 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 Sacramento, CA?
The median dental assistant salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $58,580 a year, or about $28.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,930 and $63,330.
What is a dental assistant’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $58,580 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $46,923 a year ($3,910 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,326 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a dental assistant?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $48,070. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,989 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #5 of 36 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental assistant afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median dental assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- Medical Assistant — $61,970
- Nursing Assistant — $47,510
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320