PermanentPosted 4 days ago
Dental Assistant - Surgical
ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers · Vienna, VA
$26.00–$28.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Washington, DC
The median dental assistant pay in the Washington area is $23.21 per hour ($48,270 a year), with the typical range running from $22.42 to $27.54. That ranks 84th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 265th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 5 open roles with published pay are listed for Washington and its metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Washington.
- $23.21median pay per hour, Washington
- $22–$28typical range per hour
- 7,960dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 5open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Dental Assistant roles near Washington
Roles in other cities of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area.
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Gaithersburg, MD
$20.00–$28.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Washington, DC
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Dental Assistant in Training
PDS Health · Gaithersburg, MD
$18.50–$25.50/ hour
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Alexandria, VA
$19.75–$27.75/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant - Endodontist
Aspen Dental · Frederick, MD
$20.00–$25.00/ hour
Get the Washington Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Washington, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Washington
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| PDS Health | 3 | $23.75 |
| ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers | 1 | $27 |
| Aspen Dental | 1 | $22.50 |
Dental Assistant pay in Washington, DC
The metro median is 15% below the District of Columbia statewide median of $27.17 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 7,960 dental assistants employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.05).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.11 | $37,670 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.42 | $46,630 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Median | $23.21 | $48,270 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.54 | $57,280 | 21% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $29.49 | $61,340 | 30% above U.S. median |
How Washington ranks
- 84th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 265th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Washington
- Overall prices in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.21 median hour buys what $21.32 buys at the national price level, 6% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Washington paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$836
- Per year: $41,778
- Per month: $3,482
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in District of Columbia
HRSA lists 9 active dental health shortage designations that include District of Columbia (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dental Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA | 7 mi | $23.21/hr | 159,102 |
| Rockville, MD | 14 mi | $23.21/hr | 68,417 |
| Baltimore, MD | 35 mi | $23.21/hr | 568,271 |
| Lancaster, PA | 87 mi | $22.45/hr | 58,441 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 95 mi | $22.37/hr | 50,649 |
| Wilmington, DE | 98 mi | $24.13/hr | 73,176 |
Dental Assistant jobs in District of Columbia · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in District of Columbia
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
District of Columbia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Washington
Washington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Washington, DC?
Dental Assistants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area have a median pay of $23.21 per hour, about $48,270 a year. The middle half earn between $22.42 and $27.54 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Washington a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ranks 265th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 84th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Washington?
We list 5 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Washington.
Do I need a District of Columbia license to work in Washington as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Washington in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active dental health shortage designations that include District of Columbia. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental assistants in Washington?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Washington and across District of Columbia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Washington.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Washington pay dental assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
20+ Dental Assistant roles in District of Columbia, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your District of Columbia list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- North Capital Dental Group, PLLCWashington, DC · 1 wage offer$23.26/ hr$23–$23
- Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
- Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
- Denver HealthDenver, CO · 8 postings$27.51/ hr$22–$32
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your District of Columbia list
2What they are offering now
Low$17Median$22.00High$31
976 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 464 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Dental Assistant roles
Open Dental Assistant roles near Washington, DC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.