WA · Puyallup · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Puyallup, WA

Pay for dental assistants in the Puyallup area centers on $29.27 per hour, or about $60,890 a year. The lower quarter earns under $24.00 and the upper quarter over $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. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Puyallup. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Puyallup.

Open Dental Assistant roles in Puyallup

PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Puyallup, WA

$20.00–$26.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req 39271
View role

More open Dental Assistant roles in Puyallup

1 more open role from employers in Puyallup. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Who is hiring dental assistants near Puyallup

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
PDS Health1$28.75
Aspen Dental1$22
Smile Brands1$23

Dental Assistant pay in Puyallup, 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 Puyallup 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 Puyallup

  • 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 Puyallup 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
Tacoma, WA9 mi$29.27/hr228,202
Federal Way, WA9 mi$29.27/hr100,252
Lacey, WA26 mi$23.02/hr58,644
Olympia, WA30 mi$23.02/hr56,271

Dental Assistant jobs in Washington · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide

Dental Assistant salary in Washington

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 Puyallup

Puyallup city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Puyallup, 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 Puyallup 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 Puyallup?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in Puyallup. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Puyallup.

Do I need a Washington license to work in Puyallup 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 Puyallup 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 Puyallup?

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

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What do employers near Puyallup 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 Puyallup, WA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

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

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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