Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Washington
The median dental front office earns $58,100 a year in Washington ($27.93 an hour), with the middle half earning between $48,510 and $62,840.[1]
25th percentile
$48,510
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$58,100
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$62,840
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $58,100 per year or $27.93/hr at the median. Washington runs about 26% 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 front office staff 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 | $21.63 | $44,980 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $23.32 | $48,510 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $27.93 | $58,100 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $30.21 | $62,840 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $35.33 | $73,480 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $27.55 | $57,300 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Washington
10,960
3.09
0.50
How Washington compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $58,100 in Washington vs. $45,930 nationally, $12,170 (26%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $44,980 vs. $35,930, 25% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $73,480 vs. $60,530, 21% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 14.9% in Washington vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office 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 | $60,350 | $51,130–$64,370 | 6,420 |
| Longview-Kelso | $58,830 | $48,090–$61,910 | 50 |
| Bellingham | $55,670 | $47,160–$61,380 | 230 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $54,560 | $48,270–$60,350 | 8,290 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $52,900 | $47,910–$58,340 | 320 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $50,780 | $47,220–$58,790 | 350 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $50,740 | $47,320–$61,720 | 180 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $49,200 | $46,740–$56,720 | 1,090 |
| Walla Walla | $48,130 | $46,650–$60,740 | 60 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $48,090 | $46,120–$60,820 | 220 |
| Yakima | $47,500 | $45,890–$48,220 | 340 |
| Lewiston | $47,040 | $38,890–$49,920 | 140 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $46,810 | $42,830–$51,990 | 160 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Washington
Washington's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 14.9% over 2024–2034, from 9,250 to 10,630 jobs, with about 1,220 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
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 front office pay in Washington
Pay for a dental front office 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.
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Dental Front Office salary in Washington: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Washington?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Washington was $58,100 ($27.93 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $48,510 and $62,840. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $44,980 and the top 10% earned over $73,480.
Do dental front office staff in Washington earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Washington median of $58,100 is higher than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $12,170 (26%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Washington metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 13 Washington metro areas with published BLS data, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has the highest median at $60,350 a year. Wenatchee-East Wenatchee has the lowest, at $46,810.
How many dental front office staff work in Washington?
BLS estimates 10,960 dental front office staff were employed in Washington in May 2025. That is 3.09 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.50, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Washington?
Washington's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 14.9% over 2024–2034, from 9,250 to 10,630 jobs. That works out to about 1,220 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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Dental Front Office salary by state
- Dental Front Office salary in California
- Dental Front Office salary in Texas
- Dental Front Office salary in Florida
- Dental Front Office salary in New York
- Dental Front Office salary in Illinois
- Dental Front Office salary in Pennsylvania
- Dental Front Office salary in Ohio
- Dental Front Office salary in Georgia
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (43-6013), 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: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants