Dental Assistant salary in Washington
Dental Assistants in Washington earn a median of $27.42 per hour, about $57,040 a year, 21% above the U.S. median of $22.74. The middle half earn between $23.02 and $29.75 per hour. The highest median among Washington metro areas is in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, at $29.27 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $27.42median pay per hour
- $57,040median pay per year
- 13,330dental assistants employed in Washington
- #4of 50 states by median pay
Dental Assistant pay in Washington: percentiles
| Level | Washington per hour | Washington per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $21.94 | $45,640 | $17.40 |
| Lower quartile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $19.00 |
| Median | $27.42 | $57,040 | $22.74 |
| Upper quartile | $29.75 | $61,880 | $27.36 |
| Top 10% | $31.86 | $66,270 | $29.70 |
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Washington
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs Washington median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29.27 | $60,890 | 7,490 | 7% above | $26.34 |
| Bellingham, WA | $25.76 | $53,580 | 340 | 6% below | $24.93 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $24.78 | $51,540 | 200 | 10% below | — |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $24.09 | $50,110 | 430 | 12% below | $22.81 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $23.17 | $48,190 | 510 | 15% below | $23.15 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $23.06 | $47,960 | 90 | 16% below | — |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $23.02 | $47,880 | 540 | 16% below | $22.21 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $22.95 | $47,740 | 1,110 | 16% below | $22.87 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $22.57 | $46,940 | 200 | 18% below | — |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $22.37 | $46,530 | 200 | 18% below | $21.54 |
| Yakima, WA | $22.05 | $45,860 | 470 | 20% below | $23.08 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Dental Assistant pay in states next to Washington
What employers are posting in Washington
- 21roles with published pay
- $25median pay per hour
- $19–$30typical published range
- 3employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Smile Brands | 10 | $27 |
| PDS Health | 6 | $24.50 |
| Aspen Dental | 5 | $22 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 21 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Dental Assistant jobs in Washington · Dental Assistant salary nationwide · Washington state guide
Common questions
How much does a dental assistant make in Washington?
The median is $27.42 per hour, about $57,040 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $21.94 and the top 10% earn over $31.86 (BLS, May 2024).
Which Washington city pays dental assistants the most?
Among Washington metro areas, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has the highest median at $29.27 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does Washington rank for dental assistant pay?
Washington ranks 4th of 50 states by median dental assistant pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
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Your Dental Assistant pay reportWashington · 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
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
- Dental Assistant in TrainingPermanent$21.75–$30.25/ hour
- Specialty Dental Assistant OrthodonticsPermanent$24.00–$33.50/ hour
+ 19 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.