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 | $126,820 | $124,470 | $125,710 |
| Median | $170,940 | $165,950 | $170,950 |
| 75th | $215,580 | $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, 7 campuses
- Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, 6 campuses
- American Indian Health & Services, 3 campuses
- Kim Dental, 3 campuses
- Community Health Center of the Central Coast, 2 campuses
- Ferris Dental, 2 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
- San Luis Obispo, CA · 26 miles
- Bakersfield, CA · 85 miles
- Oxnard, CA · 87 miles
- Hanford, CA · 106 miles
Related roles
- Cardiovascular Technologist jobs in Santa Maria
- CNA jobs in Santa Maria
- Community Health Worker jobs in Santa Maria
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Dietitian jobs in Santa Maria
- Health Education Specialist jobs in Santa Maria
- Health Information Technologist
- General Internist jobs in Santa Maria
- Medical Assistant jobs in Santa Maria
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist jobs in Santa Maria
- Orderly jobs in Santa Maria
- Paramedic
- Pharmacy Technician jobs in Santa Maria
- Phlebotomist jobs in Santa Maria
- Registered Nurse jobs in Santa Maria
- Respiratory Therapist jobs in Santa Maria
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Santa Maria
- Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Santa Maria
- Surgical Technologist jobs in Santa Maria
One manager hiring: Hire a Dentist in Santa Maria.
Dentists, General hiring pages
Upload your resume, see your match score, and let local employers find you
Questions
Who hires dentists in Santa Maria?
Dental practices, group practices, and community health centers hire dentists in Santa Maria. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, American Indian Health & Services.
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 Santa Maria.
What should a practice in Santa Maria weigh when hiring a dentist?
Ask which procedures the dentist does alone and how fast they build a schedule. Santa Maria has slightly fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 3% over the California median.