BLS figures put the median pay for dental hygienists in San Diego, CA, at $123,790 a year. It runs 35% above the national median of $91,890 for this occupation — pay here is notably stronger than the U.S. average. The middle 50% land between $121,380 and $126,820 — a 5,440 range that reflects differences in seniority, employer type, and specialization. The catch: San Diego is roughly in line with the national cost of living (cost index 100 against a 100 baseline), so that headline number buys less than it would elsewhere. On an hourly basis that is about $59.52, useful for comparing contract or part-time offers.

For context, the national median for dental hygienists across all U.S. metros in our data is $91,890.