salary$123,790 a year$60 an hour · median pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$108,320per year
Top pay (top 10%)$130,530per year
Jobs in the area1,940people work this job
Can a dental hygienist afford San Diego?
OK. Rent of $3,011 a month takes 29.2% of the median dental hygienist salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Dental Hygienist pay in similar cities
Other jobs in San Diego
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in San Diego, CA?
The median pay for a dental hygienist in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA area is $123,790 a year ($60 an hour). Most earn between $108,320 and $130,530.
Can a dental hygienist afford to live in San Diego?
Typical rent of $3,011 a month takes 29.2% of the median dental hygienist salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area.