Pay
The median is the middle of dentists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.
| Percentile | Metro | CA | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $130,690 | $124,470 | $125,710 |
| Median | $170,630 | $165,950 | $170,950 |
| 75th | $227,700 | $213,260 | $224,040 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Hiring difficulty and demand
This is the same score as the free check.
Who's hiring
- Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, 14 campuses
- Marcum Dental, 2 campuses
- Ahmadinia Dental, 1 campuses
- Alltucker & Mead Dental, 1 campuses
- Almeida & Chung Dental, 1 campuses
- Anderson Dental, 1 campuses
Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.
License and training
Every state licenses dentists through its dental board. The usual path is a DDS or DMD from an accredited school, the national board exam, and a clinical exam the state accepts. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, dentists
The work
The schedule is the day. You move between exams, restorations, and the patient in pain who needs a slot that morning.
Between patients you read images, review treatment plans, and sign off on hygiene exams. Owners also carry payroll, equipment, and insurance contracts.
Nearby metros
- Santa Maria, CA · 26 miles
- Bakersfield, CA · 92 miles
- Hanford, CA · 93 miles
- Visalia, CA · 105 miles
Related roles
- Cardiovascular Technologist
- CNA jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Community Health Worker jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Dietitian jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Health Education Specialist jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Health Information Technologist
- General Internist jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Medical Assistant jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Orderly
- Paramedic jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Pharmacy Technician jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Phlebotomist jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Registered Nurse jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Respiratory Therapist jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Sterile Processing Technician jobs in San Luis Obispo
- Surgical Technologist jobs in San Luis Obispo
One manager hiring: Hire a Dentist in San Luis Obispo.
Dentists, General hiring pages
Upload your resume, see your match score, and let local employers find you
Questions
Who hires dentists in San Luis Obispo?
Dental practices, group practices, and community health centers hire dentists in San Luis Obispo. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Marcum Dental, Ahmadinia Dental.
How do I get licensed as a dentist in California?
Start with the California dental board. It sets the exams it accepts and the steps for a dentist moving from another state to San Luis Obispo.
What should a practice in San Luis Obispo weigh when hiring a dentist?
Ask which procedures the dentist does alone and how fast they build a schedule. San Luis Obispo has about as many of these workers as a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the California median.