SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — Riverside
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · 10 metro areas compared
At $48,500, median pay for Dental Assistants in Riverside, CA tracks the national median of $48,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $48,500, median pay for Dental Assistants in Riverside, CA tracks the national median of $48,070 closely. Pay ranges from under $40,210 at the tenth percentile to more than $58,590 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,980 to $56,910.
Employment stands at 5,240, or 3.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, San Jose records the highest median at $74,600. Of the 671 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 472nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,210 | −16.4% |
| 25th | $46,980 | −2.3% |
| Median (50th) | $48,500 | +0.9% |
| 75th | $56,910 | +18.4% |
| 90th | $58,590 | +21.9% |
| Mean | $51,460 | +7.1% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | $74,600 | 2,870 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $64,390 | 7,530 | |
| 3 | Santa Rosa | $60,590 | 680 | |
| 4 | Napa | $60,270 | 230 | |
| 5 | Vallejo | $59,000 | 630 | |
| 6 | Oxnard | $58,930 | 1,250 | |
| 7 | Sacramento | $58,580 | 3,100 | |
| 8 | Santa Cruz | $58,580 | 370 | |
| 9 | San Diego | $58,120 | 4,260 | |
| 10 | San Luis Obispo | $57,150 | 440 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Riverside run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $48,500 buys what $43,812 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$43,812US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,500 a year, 0.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,210 to $58,590 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,240 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Jose, at $74,600.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in Riverside, CA?
The median annual wage is $48,500, or $23.32 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,070, so pay in Riverside, CA is 0.9% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Riverside, CA earns more than $58,590 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,210 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Jose, at $74,600 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,240 jobs in this occupation in Riverside, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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