WA · Kennewick · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Kennewick, WA

The median dental assistant pay in the Kennewick area is $23.17 per hour ($48,190 a year), with the typical range running from $22.34 to $27.82. That ranks 87th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 166th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Kennewick.

Dental Assistant pay in Kennewick, WA

The metro median is 15% below the Washington statewide median of $27.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 510 dental assistants employed in the Kennewick-Richland metro area, 4.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.64).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$21.21$44,1207% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$22.34$46,4702% below U.S. median
Median$23.17$48,1902% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$27.82$57,87022% above U.S. median
Top 10%$28.92$60,15027% above U.S. median

How Kennewick ranks

  • 87th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 166th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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 Kennewick

  • Overall prices in Kennewick-Richland run in line with the U.S. average (index 100.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $23.17 median hour buys what $23.15 buys at the national price level, 2% 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.

Get the Kennewick Dental Assistant pay report

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

Get my free pay report

Estimate your Kennewick paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$834
  • Per year: $41,706
  • Per month: $3,476
  • Washington has no state income tax on wages.

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

Open Dental Assistant roles in Washington

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Kennewick as they open.

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

All Dental Assistant jobs in Washington

Dental health shortage areas in Benton County

HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Benton County (1 geographic, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 15 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
Pasco, WA5 mi$23.17/hr81,724
Richland, WA8 mi$23.17/hr64,372
Yakima, WA71 mi$22.05/hr97,390
Spokane, WA131 mi$22.95/hr230,609
Spokane Valley, WA137 mi$22.95/hr108,267
Coeur d'Alene, ID153 mi$21.15/hr57,355

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 Kennewick

Kennewick city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Kennewick, WA?

Dental Assistants in the Kennewick-Richland metro area have a median pay of $23.17 per hour, about $48,190 a year. The middle half earn between $22.34 and $27.82 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Kennewick-Richland ranks 166th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 87th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Do I need a Washington license to work in Kennewick 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 Kennewick in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Benton 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 Kennewick?

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

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Kennewick 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.

Get your free pay report

85+ Dental Assistant roles in Washington, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

Your Dental Assistant pay reportKennewick, 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.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay