Dental Hygienist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Dental Hygienists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $146,760 a year — 50% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $100,249 take-home, or $8,354 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental hygienist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$23,956
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,099
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,128
- California income tax$9,419
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,908
- Take-home pay$100,249
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Hygienist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,460 | $52.63 | $78,462 | $6,538 |
| 25th percentile | $130,200 | $62.60 | $90,686 | $7,557 |
| Median (50th) | $146,760 | $70.56 | $100,249 | $8,354 |
| 75th percentile | $154,920 | $74.48 | $104,962 | $8,747 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $156,580 | $75.28 | $105,921 | $8,827 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $146,760 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental hygienist's $100,249 take-home pay has the buying power of $86,711 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 Hygienist jobs are about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for dental hygienists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $102,677 | $92,391 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $100,249 | $86,711 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $104,930 | $82,648 | $83,797 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $123,100 | $85,463 | $81,069 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $112,630 | $81,930 | $78,161 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $101,870 | $80,496 | $78,083 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | $86,517 | $76,182 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,520 | $78,599 | $76,076 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: dental hygienists
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Dental Hygienist salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,980
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median dental hygienist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $146,760 a year, or about $70.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $130,200 and $154,920.
What is a dental hygienist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $146,760 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $100,249 a year ($8,354 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $11,327 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Pay here is 50% above the national median of $98,100. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $86,711 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median dental hygienist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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