Dental hygienist jobs in California
Temp and permanent dental hygienist jobs in California, with pay and licensing facts from official sources. Always free for dental hygienists.
Pay in California
- Median pay
- $124,930 a year
- Average hourly pay
- $61.59
- Dental hygienists employed
- 24,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025.
Getting licensed in California
Licensed by the Dental Hygiene Board of California.
- Graduated from a California-accredited dental hygiene program on or after January 1, 2024, and applying within 3 years of graduation; or passed a Board-approved clinical exam (WREB, ADEX or CRDTS) within the 3 years before applying.
- Licensed in another state? Licensure by credential asks for at least 5 years licensed immediately before applying, with at least 750 clinical hours a year (the Board lists other routes).
- The Board reviews criminal background information from the FBI and the California Department of Justice before issuing a license.
- California also licenses Registered Dental Hygienists in Alternative Practice (RDHAP), with their own requirements.