Salary distribution
Where California dentists, general fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Dentists, General in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 203 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $195,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 26 | $138,143 |
| Level II — qualified | 78 | $190,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 53 | $195,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 21 | $250,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Dentists, General in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghazal, Rodgers, and Watanabe Dental Corporation | DENTIST | 24 | $168,085 |
| FAMILY HEALTHCARE NETWORK | Dentist | 17 | $202,991 |
| Western Dental Services | Dentist | 17 | $208,000 |
| United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley | Dentist | 15 | $185,000 |
| Western Dental Services, Inc. | DENTIST | 12 | $202,800 |
| CAMARENA HEALTH | Dentist | 6 | $190,000 |
| Elica Health Centers | Dentist | 6 | $180,000 |
| Von Westernhagen Dental Corporation | DENTIST | 5 | $106,038 |
| DALLA DENTAL GROUP GALT INC. | DENTIST | 3 | $260,000 |
| Bay Area Community Health | Dentist | 3 | $136,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- DENTIST at Bruce Vafa DDS Dental Corp$117,208BEVERLY HILLSDecided Dec 23, 2025I-201-25351-489237
- Dentist at CAMARENA HEALTH$195,000MaderaDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-483163
- Dentist at Dalla Gill Dental Inc.$228,800WOODLANDDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25340-462956
- DENTIST at DALLA DENTAL GROUP GALT INC.$228,800GALTDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25340-462881
- Dentist at United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley$180,000FresnoDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-458348
- PEDIATRIC DENTIST at Network of California Dental Professionals, Inc.$312,000SACRAMENTODecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-456460
- DENTIST at Von Westernhagen Dental Corporation$117,208Los AngelesDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-449890
- Dentist at Elica Health Centers$180,000SacramentoDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-441955
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Dentists, General pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Dentists, General specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 199 certified offers. The most common variant is Dentist at a median of $192,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentist | Ghazal, Rodgers, and Watanabe Dental Corporation | 187 | $192,000 |
| General Dentist | S. Jang DDS Incorporated | 7 | $197,434 |
| Dentist-General | Vrushali Damle Dental Corporation | 5 | $208,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Finger Dexterity
Ability
- 4.2 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Judgment and Decision Making
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- 02
Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
- 03
Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- 04
Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- 05
Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- 06
Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
- 07
Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
- 08
Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for dentists, general in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$205,380
- Sacramento$204,320
- San Jose$181,230
- San Diego$176,970
- Los Angeles$176,200
- Riverside$161,790
Compare Dentists, General pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Dentists, General in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Dentists, General in California is $178,540.
- How does California compare to the national median for Dentists, General?
- The California median is +5.0% versus the BLS national figure of $170,118.
- Is Dentists, General a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Dentists, General?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.