WA · Auburn · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Auburn, WA

The median dental assistant pay in the Auburn area is $29.27 per hour ($60,890 a year), with the typical range running from $24.00 to $30.10. That ranks 6th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 22nd of 339 once local prices are factored in. 12 open roles with published pay are listed for Auburn and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Auburn.

Open Dental Assistant roles near Auburn

Roles in other cities of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area.

PermanentPosted 6 days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Tacoma, WA

$25.00–$29.00/ hour
  • Full-time
  • Req 39808
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted 11 days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Bonney Lake, WA

$19.00–$25.00/ hour
  • Full-time
  • Req 39643
View role
PermanentPosted 15 days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Maple Valley, WA

$24.00–$30.00/ hour
  • Full-time
  • Req 39705
Top 25% pay
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Lakewood, WA

$23.00–$26.00/ hour
  • Full-time
  • Req 39388
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Puyallup, WA

$20.00–$26.00/ hour
  • Full-time
  • Req 39271
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Bellevue, WA

$25.00–$28.00/ hour
  • Full-time or Part-time
  • Req 38859
View role

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Named employers near Auburn, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring dental assistants near Auburn

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Smile Brands7$26.50
PDS Health4$27.38
Aspen Dental1$22

Dental Assistant pay in Auburn, WA

The metro median is 7% above the Washington statewide median of $27.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 7,490 dental assistants employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area, 3.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.48).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.38$48,6303% above U.S. median
Lower quartile$24.00$49,9206% above U.S. median
Median$29.27$60,89029% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$30.10$62,61032% above U.S. median
Top 10%$35.61$74,07057% above U.S. median

How Auburn ranks

  • 6th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 22nd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 8 Washington metro areas

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 Auburn

  • Overall prices in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue run 11% above the U.S. average (index 111.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $29.27 median hour buys what $26.34 buys at the national price level, 16% above 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 Auburn paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,054
  • Per year: $52,686
  • Per month: $4,390
  • Washington has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Dental health shortage areas in Pierce County

HRSA lists 7 active dental health shortage designations that include Pierce County (2 geographic, 1 population-group, 4 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Kent, WA6 mi$29.27/hr136,588
Federal Way, WA6 mi$29.27/hr100,252

Dental Assistant jobs in Washington · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Washington

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Washington requires for your role with the Washington licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Washington does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Washington state guide

Other healthcare roles in Auburn

Auburn city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Auburn, WA?

Dental Assistants in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area have a median pay of $29.27 per hour, about $60,890 a year. The middle half earn between $24.00 and $30.10 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Auburn a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ranks 22nd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 6th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring dental assistants in Auburn?

We list 12 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Auburn.

Do I need a Washington license to work in Auburn as a dental assistant?

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Washington requires for your role with the Washington licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Auburn in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 7 active dental health shortage designations that include Pierce County. 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 Auburn?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Auburn and across Washington. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Auburn.

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Auburn 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other employers

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

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Pay report · Dental Assistant near Auburn, WA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dental Assistant pay reportAuburn, WA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Smile BrandsTacoma, WA · 10 postings$27.00/ hr$19–$32
  • PDS HealthSeattle, WA · 6 postings$24.50/ hr$19–$34
  • Aspen DentalPuyallup, WA · 5 postings$22.00/ hr$19–$28

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$19Median$25.00High$30

21 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Washington, 16 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 21 Dental Assistant roles

  1. Dental Assistant in TrainingPermanent
    $21.75–$30.25/ hour
    PDS Health · Seattle, WA · posted today
  2. Specialty Dental Assistant OrthodonticsPermanent
    $24.00–$33.50/ hour
    PDS Health · Puyallup, WA · posted 6 days ago

+ 19 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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