PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Hygienist - Tacoma, WA
Smile Brands · Tacoma, WA
$65.00–$70.00/ hour
Dental Hygienist jobs in Tacoma, WA
Pay for dental hygienists in the Tacoma area centers on $63.41 per hour, or about $131,890 a year. The lower quarter earns under $60.69 and the upper quarter over $72.84. That ranks 4th of 369 U.S. metro areas for dental hygienist pay, and 7th of 332 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Tacoma. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Tacoma.
- $63.41median pay per hour, Seattle
- $61–$73typical range per hour
- 2,700dental hygienists employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Dental Hygienist roles in Tacoma
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Dental Hygienist roles for you in Tacoma, WA
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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Get the Tacoma Dental Hygienist pay report
Named employers near Tacoma, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Hygienist pay in Tacoma, WA
The metro median is 5% above the Washington statewide median of $60.27 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.32 per hour. BLS counts about 2,700 dental hygienists employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $58.41 | $121,490 | 29% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $60.69 | $126,240 | 34% above U.S. median |
| Median | $63.41 | $131,890 | 40% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $72.84 | $151,510 | 61% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $77.79 | $161,800 | 72% above U.S. median |
How Tacoma ranks
- 4th of 369 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 7th of 332 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 Hygienists (SOC 29-1292), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Tacoma
- 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 $63.41 median hour buys what $57.06 buys at the national price level, 26% 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 Tacoma paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,283
- Per year: $114,138
- Per month: $9,511
- 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 Hygienist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, WA | 7 mi | $63.41/hr | 62,709 |
| Federal Way, WA | 7 mi | $63.41/hr | 100,252 |
| Lacey, WA | 21 mi | $59.01/hr | 58,644 |
| Olympia, WA | 25 mi | $59.01/hr | 56,271 |
Dental Hygienist jobs in Washington · Dental Hygienist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Washington
Active dental hygiene license in the state of the job. 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.
Other healthcare roles in Tacoma
Tacoma city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Tacoma, WA?
Dental Hygienists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area have a median pay of $63.41 per hour, about $131,890 a year. The middle half earn between $60.69 and $72.84 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Tacoma a good place for dental hygienists once cost of living is counted?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ranks 7th of 332 metro areas for dental hygienist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 4th of 369 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental hygienists in Tacoma?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Tacoma. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Tacoma.
Do I need a Washington license to work in Tacoma as a dental hygienist?
Active dental hygiene license in the state of the job. 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 Tacoma 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 hygienists in Tacoma?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Tacoma and across Washington. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Tacoma.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Tacoma pay dental hygienists? 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
85+ Dental Hygienist 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.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Hygienist pay reportTacoma, WA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- PDS HealthEverett, WA · 3 postings$77.50/ hr$70–$85
- Michael L. Bilikas, DDS PSUniversity, WA · 1 wage offer$72.33/ hr$70–$75
- Smile BrandsBonney Lake, WA · 11 postings$68.50/ hr$52–$72
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$65Median$68.50High$72
15 Hygienist postings with published pay in Washington, 2 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 15 Hygienist roles
- Dental Hygienist - Bonney Lake, WAPermanent$65.00–$70.00/ hour
- Dental Hygienist (RDH)Permanent$58.00–$63.00/ hour
+ 13 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.