PayByState

Washington · BLS SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Washington

Median $57,770 · Top 10% earn $80,680+ · Roughly 8,296 workers in Washington. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Washington median
$57,770
$27.77/hr
Top 10%
$80,680
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$40,390
Entry-level range
Real pay
$52,614
CoL-adjusted (RPP 109.8)

Washington pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for dental assistants — $57,770 versus the national median of $47,350. Real purchasing power is $5,264 above the U.S. average — a clean win. The state employs roughly 8,296 dental assistants.

What drives dental assistant pay in Washington

Washington sits in the top quartile of U.S. dental assistant pay. The structural drivers are typical of high-pay states for this occupation: strong hospital system concentration, limited credential supply, or regulatory frameworks that compress labor availability.

Top-paying metros in Washington

Washington-area metropolitan areas with the highest dental assistant medians.

Washington metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank Metro Median
1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $57,400

Washington ranks #2 of 50 states

Where Washington sits in the national distribution for dental assistant pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Washington
#1 California $60,130 +$2,360
#2 Washington (this page) $57,770 —
#3 District of Columbia $57,290 −$480
#4 New York $56,820 −$950
#5 Alaska $54,930 −$2,840
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Assistant programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

Compare programs

Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.

Education path for Washington

The typical path is a postsecondary nondegree certificate (8–12 mo); on-the-job in some states, taking about 10 months. Tuition ranges from $1,000 (community college) to $12,000 (private accelerated). On the Washington median of $57,770, payback periods are typically 0.5 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Dental Assistant salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Washington selected.

Dental Assistant salary in Washington — FAQ

What is the average dental assistant salary in Washington?
The median dental assistant salary in Washington is $57,770 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $40,390; the top 10% earn $80,680 or more. About 8,296 people work in this role across the state.
How does Washington dental assistant pay compare to the national average?
Washington's median of $57,770 is $10,420 above the U.S. national median of $47,350. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 109.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $52,614.
Where does Washington pay dental assistants the most?
Top-paying metros in Washington include Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $57,400. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.
Is dental assistant a good career in Washington?
On the data: Washington employs roughly 8,296 dental assistants, with a median wage of $57,770 and the top decile clearing $80,680. The role is projected to grow +7% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for dental assistants in Washington?
At the Washington median of $57,770 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $27.77/hr. The top 10% earn around $38.79/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $19.42/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Washington-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 31-9091: Dental Assistants), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Washington's RPP is 109.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.