WA · Spokane · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Spokane, WA

Pay for dental assistants in the Spokane area centers on $22.95 per hour, or about $47,740 a year. The lower quarter earns under $22.07 and the upper quarter over $26.52. That ranks 109th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 189th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Spokane. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Spokane.

Open Dental Assistant roles in Spokane

PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Spokane, WA

$21.00–$23.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-008209
View role

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

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Who is hiring dental assistants near Spokane

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Aspen Dental1$22
Smile Brands1$27

Dental Assistant pay in Spokane, WA

The metro median is 16% below the Washington statewide median of $27.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,110 dental assistants employed in the Spokane-Spokane Valley metro area, 4.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.78).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$19.25$40,04015% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$22.07$45,9103% below U.S. median
Median$22.95$47,7401% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$26.52$55,16017% above U.S. median
Top 10%$28.00$58,24023% above U.S. median

How Spokane ranks

  • 109th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 189th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th 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 Spokane

  • Overall prices in Spokane-Spokane Valley run in line with the U.S. average (index 100.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $22.95 median hour buys what $22.87 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Spokane paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$826
  • Per year: $41,310
  • Per month: $3,442
  • Washington has no state income tax on wages.

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

Dental health shortage areas in Spokane County

HRSA lists 7 active dental health shortage designations that include Spokane County (1 geographic, 1 population-group, 5 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
Spokane Valley, WA9 mi$22.95/hr108,267
Coeur d'Alene, ID30 mi$21.15/hr57,355
Pasco, WA125 mi$23.17/hr81,724
Richland, WA130 mi$23.17/hr64,372
Kennewick, WA131 mi$23.17/hr86,728
Yakima, WA164 mi$22.05/hr97,390

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 Spokane

Spokane city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Spokane, WA?

Dental Assistants in the Spokane-Spokane Valley metro area have a median pay of $22.95 per hour, about $47,740 a year. The middle half earn between $22.07 and $26.52 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Spokane-Spokane Valley ranks 189th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 109th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Who is hiring dental assistants in Spokane?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Spokane. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Spokane.

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

HRSA lists 7 active dental health shortage designations that include Spokane 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 Spokane?

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

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    Pay for your role at other employers

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    What they are offering now

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

Your Dental Assistant pay reportSpokane, 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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