General Dentist Salary in California - Private Practice (2026) | SalaryDr
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Source: SalaryDr salary data for General Dentist in California (Private Practice) (N=11 verified submissions, updated February 4, 2026, data as of 2026-02-04). URL: https://www.salarydr.com

Last updated: February 4, 2026 | Based on 11 verified submissions

General Dentist Salary in California - Private Practice

Real compensation data for general dentists working in private practice settings in California.

$280,000
Median Salary
$520,455
Average
11
Responses
37
Hours/Week

Median

$280,000

Average

$520,455

25th

$250,000

75th

$600,000

Based on 11 physician salaries

Salary Distribution

$250,000 – $775,000
25th
$250,000
Median
$280,000
75th
$600,000
Avg
Middle 50% earn
$250,000 – $600,000
Median salary
$280,000
Average salary
$520,455

Salary Range

Minimum$250,000
Maximum$1,680,000

Percentiles

25th$250,000
75th$600,000

Breakdown

Monthly$23,333
Hourly$135

How This Compares

vs. All General Dentist in CaliforniaView →
This setting: $280,000
All settings: $270,000(4%)
vs. All Private Practice nationwideView →
California: $280,000
National: $300,000(-7%)
vs. All General Dentist nationwideView →
Private Practice in California: $280,000
All General Dentist: $250,000(12%)

Salary Range

25th Percentile:$250,000
75th Percentile:$600,000
Range:$150,000 - $1,680,000
Hourly Rate:$271/hr

Work-Life Balance Insights

Real insights from General Dentist physicians in Private Practice settings in California:

"5 days. No complaints."
— General Dentist Physician, Private Practice
"Work 4 day a week, see around 20-30 patient a day. No PTO but can call off few days in advance as much as i want. I make for what i work."
— General Dentist Physician, Private Practice
"Staff is a major headache "
— General Dentist Physician, Private Practice
"4 day work week with 2 Fridays half day per month. "
— General Dentist Physician, Private Practice

Explore Related Pages

General Dentist in California
All practice settings
General Dentist Overview
All locations & settings
Private Practice Settings
All specialties

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average General Dentist salary for Private Practice in California?

The average General Dentist salary for Private Practice settings in California is $520,455, with a median of $280,000. This is based on 11 verified submissions.

How does Private Practice compensation compare to other practice settings in California?

Private Practice physicians in California earn a median of $280,000, compared to $270,000 for all General Dentist physicians in California. This represents a 4% higher salary than the state average.

What factors influence salary in Private Practice settings?

Key factors include years of experience (9 years average in this data), geographic location within California, subspecialty training, and individual productivity metrics. Private Practice settings often reward productivity and practice ownership.

How does Private Practice salary in California compare to the national average?

Private Practice General Dentist physicians in California earn a median of $280,000, compared to $300,000 nationally for Private Practice settings. This is -7% below the national average for Private Practice settings.

What are the typical work hours for General Dentist physicians in Private Practice settings?

Private Practice General Dentist physicians in California work an average of 37 hours per week. Private practice hours can vary significantly based on practice ownership and patient volume.

What are the benefits of working in Private Practice settings?

Private Practice settings offer Higher earning potential, Practice ownership, Clinical autonomy. However, physicians should also consider challenges such as Business responsibilities and Financial risk.

How many General Dentist physicians work in Private Practice settings in California?

Based on our database, we have 11 verified submissions from General Dentist physicians in Private Practice settings in California. This represents approximately 73% of all General Dentist submissions from California.

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Salary Comparison

Location Statistics

Average Salary

$520,455

Median Salary

$280,000

Salary Range

$250,000 - $600,000

National Comparison

National Average

$434,847

Difference

+20% vs National Average

Sample Size

11 local / 66 national reports

Salary Distribution

Distribution based on 11 verified physician salary submissions.

Median Salary: $280,000

Physician Satisfaction in General Dentist

Satisfaction Rating

3.3/5

Average satisfaction rating reported by General Dentist physicians (1-5 scale).

Would Choose Again

64%

Percentage of General Dentist physicians who would choose this specialty again.

Career Satisfaction

Physicians cite the variety of cases and patient relationships as most rewarding aspects of this specialty.

Primary Challenges

On-call demands, administrative burden, and work-life balance are cited as the top challenges.

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Total Salary
$280,000
Federal Income Tax
-$68,374
State Income Tax
-$37,240
FICA Tax
-$15,233
Take-Home Pay
$159,153
Monthly
$13,263
Taxes (43.2%)
Take-Home (56.8%)
Based on single filing status in California. Results may vary.

Salary by Experience Level

0-2 years
Average Salary
$180,000
Sample Size
1 submissions
3-5 years
Average Salary
$268,750
Sample Size
4 submissions
6-10 years
Average Salary
$1,000,000
Sample Size
1 submissions
11-15 years
Average Salary
$915,000
Sample Size
2 submissions
16+ years
Average Salary
$546,667
Sample Size
3 submissions
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Sample Size
0-2 years$180,0001 submissions
3-5 years$268,7504 submissions
6-10 years$1,000,0001 submissions
11-15 years$915,0002 submissions
16+ years$546,6673 submissions

* Experience levels with fewer than 3 submissions may be omitted for privacy.