Salary report · Los Angeles, CA

What is the average Dentist salary in Los Angeles, CA?

Dentists in Los Angeles earn a median of $196,500 per year — about 15% above the national average. Pay ranges from $141,500 (25th percentile) to $304,600 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$141,500
Median
$196,500
75th percentile
$251,500
90th percentile
$304,600
YoY change
+3.9%

Dentist salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$127,700
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$196,500
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$251,500
Lead · 8+ yrs
$284,900

How Los Angeles pay compares

Los Angeles median$196,500
National median$170,910
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 173)$113,600

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Los Angeles salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$169K
2022
$175K
2023
$182K
2024
$189K
2025
$197K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.

Dentist job market in Los Angeles

LA is the entertainment and aerospace capital of the US, with strong tech and healthcare sectors. Salaries run 15–30% above national average; California state taxes are among the highest.

An estimated 22,300 dentists work in the Los Angeles metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Perform exams and cleanings
  • Diagnose oral conditions
  • Perform procedures
  • Educate patients
  • Manage dental practice

Related job salaries in Los Angeles

Dentist salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Dentist make in Los Angeles, CA?+

Dentists in Los Angeles earn a median of $196,500 per year — about 15% above the national average of $170,910.

What's the entry-level Dentist salary in Los Angeles?+

Entry-level Dentists in Los Angeles typically earn around $127,700 per year. Salaries scale to about $284,900 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $196,500 a good Dentist salary in Los Angeles?+

$196,500 is the median, meaning half of Dentists in Los Angeles earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 173, that's roughly $113,600 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Dentist pay growing in Los Angeles?+

Dentist salaries in Los Angeles grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +5%.

Where do Dentists in Los Angeles get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Dentist salary in Los Angeles is around $304,600. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Los Angeles?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Los Angeles median.

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