Dental Hygiene Schools and Salaries in California CA

Search Physical Therapy Aide Programs

Get information on Physical Therapy Aide programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Call your affiliate widget here.

How to become a Dental Hygienist in California

If you are interested in training to become a dental hygienist in California, you must graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.

Requirements for entry into accredited programs include a high school diploma or equivalent, and, depending on the school, you may need to pass entrance exams and complete an entry interview. Medical and legal clearances may also be required.

Below we provide details of the top accredited dental hygienist programs in California, as well as the state’s licensing requirements and salary and employment data.

Top Dental Hygienist Schools in California for 2023

Schools offering dental hygiene programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) are recognized to maintain a high standard of education by the American Dental Association (ADA).

There are currently 25 CODA-accredited dental hygiene schools in California.

Once you have graduated from an accredited program you will be required to sit some additional state and/or national certification exams before you are eligible to apply for your dental hygienist license.

SchoolAreaLearn More
West Coast UniversityAnaheimVisit Website
Cabrillo CollegeAptosVisit Website
West Los Angeles CollegeCulver CityVisit Website
Cypress CollegeCypressVisit Website
Fresno City CollegeFresnoVisit Website
Concorde Career CollegeGarden GroveVisit Website
Chabot CollegeHaywardVisit Website
Loma Linda UniversityLoma LindaVisit Website
Foothill CollegeLos Altos HillsVisit Website
Moreno Valley CollegeMoreno ValleyVisit Website
Southwestern CollegeNational CityVisit Website
Cerritos CollegeNorwalkVisit Website
San Joaquin Valley CollegeOntarioVisit Website
Oxnard CollegeOxnardVisit Website
Pasadena City CollegePasadenaVisit Website
Shasta College, ReddingReddingVisit Website
Sacramento City CollegeSacramentoVisit Website
Carrington CollegeSacramentoVisit Website
Concorde Career CollegeSan BernardinoVisit Website
Concorde Career CollegeSan DiegoVisit Website
University of the PacificSan FranciscoVisit Website
Carrington CollegeSan JoseVisit Website
Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta RosaVisit Website
Taft CollegeTaftVisit Website
San Joaquin Valley CollegeVisaliaVisit Website

You can use the map below to browse accredited schools in your area – San Francisco Bay Area (5 schools), Greater Los Angeles (6 schools), San Diego (2 schools), San Bernardino area (3 schools), Sacramento (1 school).

 

California Dental Hygienist License Requirements

Once you have successfully graduated from an accredited program and have passed all additional certification exams, California law requires you to obtain a license to work as a dental hygienist there.

The Dental Board of California governs the licensing of dental hygienists in California. You can contact the Board directly using the contact details below:

State Board: The Dental Board of California
Phone: (916) 263-2300
Website: http://www.dbc.ca.gov

Dental Hygienist Salary in California

Salary$97,420
Hourly Wage$46.84
Bottom 10% of Earners$70,010
Top 10% of Earners$126,020
# Employed22,840

California’s average dental hygienist salary is $97,420  –  30% above the national average of $74,680.

This represents an hourly wage of $46.84.

There are currently 22,840 persons employed as dental hygienists in the state.

California Dental Hygienist Employment and Salaries by Metro Area

It is a great time to train to become a dental hygienist in California, given the strong salary levels and jobs growth for the career.

Dental hygiene salaries are among some of the highest in the healthcare industry and it is projected that an additional 30,000 positions will be created in the sector between 2016 and 2024 representing an almost 15% increase in employment.

The table below provides a breakdown of salaries and employment of dental hygienists across the main towns, cities and non-metro areas in California;

AreaNumber EmployedSalary
Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA 2150$91,660.00
Bakersfield, CA230$84,630.00
Chico, CA200$94,990.00
Fresno, CA330$86,200.00
Hanford-Corcoran, CA40$75,890.00
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA6870$95,410.00
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA 4720$97,120.00
Modesto, CA290$74,080.00
Napa, CA130$82,140.00
Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA1580$102,160.00
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA610$93,980.00
Redding, CA80$88,350.00
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA1560$86,950.00
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA1970$94,910.00
Salinas, CANot Avalable$97,130.00
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA1510$84,480.00
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA2890$105,140.00
San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA 1310$108,790.00
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA1340$95,710.00
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA240$93,370.00
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA340$98,300.00
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA210$93,950.00
Santa Rosa, CA270$89,130.00
Stockton-Lodi, CA260$92,600.00
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA210$101,640.00
Visalia-Porterville, CA190$83,020.00
Yuba City, CA60$89,490.00
Mother Lode Region of California 90$86,120.00
North Coast Region of California 100$89,780.00
North Valley Region of California Not Avalable$88,330.00
Northern Mountains Region of California 220$67,850.00

Related Healthcare Career Comparisons in California

The table below provides a comparison between the income and employment of dental hygienists and related healthcare careers in California;

CareerNumber EmployedSalary
Dental Hygienists4550$78,980.00
Physician Assistants2330$97,330.00
Respiratory Therapists1770$58,590.00
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers860$80,300.00
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics4110$40,710.00
Pharmacy Technicians4980$33,870.00
Surgical Technologists1410$49,270.00
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians3230$30,530.00
Home Health Aides12210$26,190.00
Nursing Assistants18940$29,380.00
Occupational Therapy Assistants570$50,060.00
Physical Therapist Assistants1040$49,970.00
Massage Therapists4510$44,080.00
Dental Assistants6080$39,060.00
Medical Assistants9210$33,330.00
Medical Transcriptionists940$41,360.00
Phlebotomists1800$35,830.00
Search Dental Assistant Programs

Get information on Dental Assistant programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Sponsored Listings