Dentists, General Salary in San Diego, CA
Dentists, General in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $158,160 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,833 take-home, or $8,903 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dentists, general salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,692
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,806
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,293
- California income tax$10,479
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,056
- Take-home pay$106,833
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Dentists, General pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,600 | $43.56 | $67,193 | $5,599 |
| 25th percentile | $124,520 | $59.87 | $87,406 | $7,284 |
| Median (50th) | $158,160 | $76.04 | $106,833 | $8,903 |
| 75th percentile | $222,040 | $106.75 | $145,520 | $12,127 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $259,320+ | $124.67 | $166,042 | $13,837 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $158,160 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dentists, general's $106,833 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,483 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 1.4× 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
San Diego, CA ranks #46 of 51 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port, FL | $239,200+ | $177,832 | $173,635 |
| 2 | Columbia, SC | $228,820 | $156,705 | $167,309 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $215,290 | $160,188 | $166,277 |
| 4 | Orlando, FL | $212,300 | $157,986 | $155,777 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $210,430 | $147,656 | $155,283 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $218,880 | $150,980 | $154,285 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $222,690 | $154,318 | $154,229 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $207,380 | $146,597 | $149,349 |
| 46 | San Diego, CA | $158,160 | $106,833 | $95,483 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 51 metros →
Dentists, General salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $207,910
- San Francisco, CA — $202,060
- Sacramento, CA — $170,500
- Los Angeles, CA — $139,990
- Riverside, CA — $125,230
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentists, general make in San Diego, CA?
The median dentists, general salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $158,160 a year, or about $76.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,520 and $222,040.
What is a dentists, general’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $158,160 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $106,833 a year ($8,903 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,535 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a dentists, general?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $170,950. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,483 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #46 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dentists, general afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 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 San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790
- Occupational Therapist — $121,680