Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Washington
The median dentist earns $169,730 a year in Washington ($81.60 an hour), with the middle half earning between $119,250 and $235,180.[1]
25th percentile
$119,250
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$169,730
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$235,180
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $169,730 per year or $81.60/hr at the median. That's about the same as 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 dentists 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 | $40.98 | $85,240 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $57.33 | $119,250 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $81.60 | $169,730 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $113.07 | $235,180 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $166.75 | $346,840 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $94.14 | $195,810 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Washington
3,240
0.91
1.14
How Washington compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $169,730 in Washington vs. $170,950 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $85,240 vs. $86,250, 1% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $346,840 vs. $319,630, 9% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 15.8% in Washington vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Washington
All 11 Washington metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $212,000 | $126,210–$343,910 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $209,440 | $169,070–$294,650 | 990 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $205,790 | $134,630–$310,130 | 280 |
| Longview-Kelso | $204,950 | $102,710–$323,110 | 40 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $203,250 | $125,130–$318,030 | 100 |
| Yakima | $200,130 | $119,950–$310,480 | 90 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $171,990 | $122,600–$257,690 | 50 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $171,320 | $126,700–$355,810 | 110 |
| Bellingham | $168,030 | $86,390–$219,710 | 90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $161,270 | $106,660–$227,980 | 1,920 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $123,460 | $112,250–$218,800 | 130 |
Job outlook for dentists in Washington
Washington's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 15.8% over 2024–2034, from 4,250 to 4,920 jobs, with about 250 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dentist (all dentists, including specialists) employment to grow 6% over 2025–35, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,800 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 dentist pay in Washington
Pay for a dentist 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
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Dentist salary in Washington: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Washington?
The median annual wage for dentists in Washington was $169,730 ($81.60 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $119,250 and $235,180. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $85,240 and the top 10% earned over $346,840. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Washington earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Washington median of $169,730 is about the same as the U.S. median of $170,950. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Washington metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 11 Washington metro areas with published BLS data, Mount Vernon-Anacortes has the highest median at $212,000 a year. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater has the lowest, at $123,460.
How many dentists work in Washington?
BLS estimates 3,240 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Washington in May 2025. That is 0.91 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.14, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Washington?
Washington's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 15.8% over 2024–2034, from 4,250 to 4,920 jobs. That works out to about 250 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
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Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021), 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: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)