Dental Hygiene Schools and Salaries in California CA

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.

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

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;

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;