Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Washington
The median dental assistant earns $58,090 a year in Washington ($27.93 an hour), with the middle half earning between $48,780 and $62,340.[1]
25th percentile
$48,780
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$58,090
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$62,340
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $58,090 per year or $27.93/hr at the median. Washington runs about 21% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Washington
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental assistants in Washington earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Washington hourly | Washington annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $22.25 | $46,280 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $23.45 | $48,780 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $27.93 | $58,090 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $29.97 | $62,340 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $32.80 | $68,230 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $27.25 | $56,680 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Washington
13,050
3.68
1.47
How Washington compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $58,090 in Washington vs. $48,070 nationally, $10,020 (21%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $46,280 vs. $37,130, 25% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $68,230 vs. $62,250, 10% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 15.8% in Washington vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Washington
All 13 Washington metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $62,040 | $49,370–$63,070 | 7,100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $59,890 | $57,570–$64,270 | 4,120 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $50,980 | $46,760–$57,330 | 1,000 |
| Bellingham | $49,830 | $47,170–$59,010 | 410 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $49,800 | $47,070–$59,450 | 470 |
| Walla Walla | $49,790 | $45,980–$56,610 | 110 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $49,540 | $47,760–$58,900 | 520 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $49,530 | $47,640–$59,910 | 230 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $48,890 | $47,540–$59,210 | 480 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $48,300 | $45,500–$57,120 | 210 |
| Longview-Kelso | $47,500 | $46,210–$58,330 | 190 |
| Lewiston | $47,360 | $45,550–$60,640 | 100 |
| Yakima | $46,670 | $45,080–$55,650 | 480 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Washington
Washington's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 15.8% over 2024–2034, from 11,220 to 13,000 jobs, with about 1,910 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental assistant employment to grow 7% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 53,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental assistant pay in Washington
Pay for a dental assistant depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental assistant roles in Washington, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Assistant salary in Washington: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Washington?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Washington was $58,090 ($27.93 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $48,780 and $62,340. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $46,280 and the top 10% earned over $68,230.
Do dental assistants in Washington earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Washington median of $58,090 is higher than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $10,020 (21%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Washington metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 13 Washington metro areas with published BLS data, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has the highest median at $62,040 a year. Yakima has the lowest, at $46,670.
How many dental assistants work in Washington?
BLS estimates 13,050 dental assistants were employed in Washington in May 2025. That is 3.68 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.47, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Washington?
Washington's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 15.8% over 2024–2034, from 11,220 to 13,000 jobs. That works out to about 1,910 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Washington?
Fill dental assistant roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Washington
Dental Assistant salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Assistants (31-9091), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Washington long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants