California / Department of State Hospitals / Dental Assistant (Safety)

Job-title file

Dental Assistant (Safety)

Diagnose and treat patients, direct clinical care, and supervise other medical staff.

24 employees hold this title in Department of State Hospitals. Median total compensation for the role is $64,736, below the department median of $92,376.

Employees: 24
Total payroll: $1.3M
Role median: $64,736
Agency median: $92,376
Comparison: Below

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$708$87,100+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 24 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Dental Assistant (Safety) pay vs. California

Across all employers in California, the median wage for Dental Assistants — about 56,220 people — is $50,110. Department of State Hospitals pays a median base salary of $67,891 for this role, 35% above that figure — about the 83rd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of State Hospitals sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$38,790

$46,270

$50,110

$60,670

$73,700

Department of State Hospitals median · $67,891

The bar is the range of annual wages for Dental Assistants across every employer in California, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of State Hospitals’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

And across the country

Nationwide, the median wage for Dental Assistants — about 387,790 people — is $48,070. Department of State Hospitals’s median base salary is 41% above that national figure, above the 90th percentile of pay for the occupation nationally.

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$37,130

$44,340

$48,070

$58,090

$62,250

Department of State Hospitals median · $67,891

Local and national wages differ for reasons beyond how well a job pays — cost of living, the mix of employers, and local demand for the occupation all move the California range relative to the national one.

Computed over the 17 of 24 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of State Hospitals is $64,736, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare jurisdictions

Dental Assistant beyond California

This role is reported in 12 jurisdictions. In California, the median of $64,736 ranks #2 of 12. See Dental Assistant across all of California →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

Los Angeles County

$97,088 · 41

Illinois

$64,500 · 11

City of Cincinnati

$59,185 · 45

U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

$55,883 · 2,308

$51,118 · 43

$44,393 · 16

$43,798 · 24

$39,350 · 102

Median total compensation for comparable Dental Assistantroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Jessica Tucker

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$87,387

Sub-department: Atascadero State Hospital
Base pay: $87,387
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,387
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4554367914003
Salary Total: $7,278
Total Pay: $87,387

At Department of State Hospitals, Jessica Tucker serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Atascadero State Hospital. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $87,387. Union affiliation: R20.

Luvia Whitten

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$86,763

Sub-department: Patton State Hospital
Base pay: $85,783
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $980
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,763
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5024367914002
Salary Total: $7,228
Total Pay: $86,763

Luvia Whitten works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Patton State Hospital. Their status is full-time. Luvia earned $86,763 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Laura Guerrero

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$84,387

Sub-department: Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac
Base pay: $84,387
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,387
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: Y

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4374367914005
Salary Total: $7,028
Total Pay: $84,387

Laura Guerrero holds the role of Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $84,387. They are represented by R20.

Heather Andres

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$83,509

Sub-department: Atascadero State Hospital
Base pay: $82,259
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,509
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4554367914002
Salary Total: $6,700
Total Pay: $83,509

Heather Andres is a Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Atascadero State Hospital. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $83,509. Union affiliation: R20.

Samantha Morris

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$81,673

Sub-department: Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac
Base pay: $81,673
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,673
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4374367914002
Salary Total: $7,053
Total Pay: $81,673

At Department of State Hospitals, Samantha Morris serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $81,673. Union affiliation: R20.

Kimberly Bragg

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$70,908

Sub-department: Metropolitan State Hospital
Base pay: $70,908
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,908
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4874367914003
Salary Total: $7,028
Total Pay: $70,908

Kimberly Bragg is a Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Metropolitan State Hospital. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $70,908. Union affiliation: R20.

Laura Resendez

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$67,954

Sub-department: Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac
Base pay: $67,954
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,954
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Fresno

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4374367914001
Salary Total: $5,660
Total Pay: $67,954

Laura Resendez works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac. Their status is full-time. Laura earned $67,954 in 2025. They are represented by R20.

Erica Cruz

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$67,954

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $67,954
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,954
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914003
Salary Total: $5,660
Total Pay: $67,954

Erica Cruz works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Napa State Hospital. Their status is full-time. Erica earned $67,954 in 2025. They are represented by R20.

Emma Munoz

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$67,891

Sub-department: Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac
Base pay: $67,891
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,891
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Fresno
Middle name: Y

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4374367914004
Salary Total: $5,660
Total Pay: $67,891

At Department of State Hospitals, Emma Munoz serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $67,891. Union affiliation: R20.

Rebecca Hall

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$67,779

Sub-department: Metropolitan State Hospital
Base pay: $67,771
Overtime: $8
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,779
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Los Angeles

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4874367914004
Salary Total: $5,685
Total Pay: $67,779

Rebecca Hall works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Metropolitan State Hospital. Their status is full-time. Rebecca earned $67,779 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Terri Osborne

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$66,454

Sub-department: Patton State Hospital
Base pay: $66,454
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,454
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: I

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5024367914004
Salary Total: $5,535
Total Pay: $66,454

Terri Osborne works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Patton State Hospital. Their status is full-time. Terri earned $66,454 in 2025. Union affiliation: R20.

Stephanie Shepard

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$65,879

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $57,833
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $8,045
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,879
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,706
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914005
Salary Total: $5,660
Total Pay: $65,879

At Department of State Hospitals, Stephanie Shepard serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Napa State Hospital. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $65,879. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Ariel Ramirez

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$63,593

Sub-department: Patton State Hospital
Base pay: $62,668
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $925
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $63,593
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,542
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5024367914001
Salary Total: $5,526
Total Pay: $63,593

At Department of State Hospitals, Ariel Ramirez serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Patton State Hospital. They work full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $63,593. They are represented by R20.

Alena Rowlett

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$61,711

Sub-department: Atascadero State Hospital
Base pay: $61,711
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,711
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Luis Obispo
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,074
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4554367914001
Salary Total: $5,297
Total Pay: $61,711

Alena Rowlett works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Atascadero State Hospital. Their status is full-time. Alena earned $61,711 in 2025. Union affiliation: R20.

Cinthia Chaydez

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$61,222

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $61,222
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,222
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,529
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914002
Salary Total: $5,363
Total Pay: $61,222

Cinthia Chaydez is a Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Napa State Hospital. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $61,222. Union affiliation: R20.

Katherine Nunez

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$57,029

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $57,029
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $57,029
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,074
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914004
Salary Total: $5,047
Total Pay: $57,029

Katherine Nunez holds the role of Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Napa State Hospital. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $57,029. Union affiliation: R20.

Monica Kral

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$46,606

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $46,606
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $46,606
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,559
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914006
Salary Total: $4,547
Total Pay: $46,606

Monica Kral is a Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Napa State Hospital. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $46,606. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Melissa Thompson

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2023 total comp

$27,110

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $23,781
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,329
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $27,110
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,021
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914003
Salary Total: $5,146
Total Pay: $27,110

At Department of State Hospitals, Melissa Thompson serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Napa State Hospital. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $27,110. Union affiliation: R20.

Debra Heathbordeaux

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$23,863

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $23,863
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $23,863
Employment type: Intermittent
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $7,117
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914902
Salary Total: $41
Total Pay: $23,863

Debra Heathbordeaux is a Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Napa State Hospital. They work intermittent. 2025 total compensation came to $23,863. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Julio Madrid

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$15,089

Sub-department: Patton State Hospital
Base pay: $15,089
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $15,089
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,265
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5024367914003
Salary Total: $5,107
Total Pay: $15,089

Julio Madrid works as a Dental Assistant (Safety) for Department of State Hospitals within Patton State Hospital. Their status is full-time. Julio earned $15,089 in 2025. They are represented by R20.

Edna Carpio

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2023 total comp

$11,779

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $11,237
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $542
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $11,779
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $4,212
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914002
Salary Total: $4,337
Total Pay: $11,779

Edna Carpio holds the role of Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Napa State Hospital. Their status is full-time. In 2023, their total compensation was $11,779. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Annette Evans

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$9,046

Sub-department: Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac
Base pay: $9,601
Overtime: $0
Other pay: -$555
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $9,046
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Fresno

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,540
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4374367914003
Salary Total: $5,665
Total Pay: $9,046

Annette Evans holds the role of Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Coalinga Secure Treatment Fac. Their status is full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $9,046. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Liliana Robles

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2023 total comp

$7,198

Sub-department: Napa State Hospital
Base pay: $6,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $427
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $7,198
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: Napa

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $3,935
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 4804367914002
Salary Total: $3,935
Total Pay: $7,198

At Department of State Hospitals, Liliana Robles serves as a Dental Assistant (Safety) within Napa State Hospital. They work full-time. Their 2023 pay totaled $7,198. Their bargaining unit is R20.

Deona Drury

Dental Assistant (Safety)/Department of State Hospitals

2025 total comp

$708

Sub-department: Patton State Hospital
Base pay: $515
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $193
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $708
Employment type: Full-Time
Union / bargaining unit: R20
Work county: San Bernardino
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Pay: $5,540
Cs/csu: Cs
Position Number: 5024367914003
Salary Total: $5,665
Total Pay: $708

Deona Drury is a Dental Assistant (Safety) at Department of State Hospitals within Patton State Hospital. They work full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $708. They are represented by R20.