SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — Western Washington
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Dental Assistants in Western Washington, WA is $57,550 per year, 19.7% above the national median of $48,070.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Dental Assistants in Western Washington, WA is $57,550 per year, 19.7% above the national median of $48,070. Pay ranges from under $46,180 at the tenth percentile to more than $69,600 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $46,990 to $61,840.
Employment stands at 450, or 3.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,040. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 216th of 355 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,180 | −3.9% |
| 25th | $46,990 | −2.2% |
| Median (50th) | $57,550 | +19.7% |
| 75th | $61,840 | +28.6% |
| 90th | $69,600 | +44.8% |
| Mean | $56,080 | +16.7% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $62,040 | 7,100 | |
| 2 | Spokane | $50,980 | 1,000 | |
| 3 | Bellingham | $49,830 | 410 | |
| 4 | Bremerton | $49,800 | 470 | |
| 5 | Walla Walla | $49,790 | 110 | |
| 6 | Kennewick | $49,540 | 520 | |
| 7 | Mount Vernon | $49,530 | 230 | |
| 8 | Olympia | $48,890 | 480 | |
| 9 | Wenatchee | $48,300 | 210 | |
| 10 | Longview | $47,500 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Western Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $57,550 buys what $53,785 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 11.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$53,785US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,550 a year, 19.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,180 to $69,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 450 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $62,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in Western Washington, WA?
The median annual wage is $57,550, or $27.67 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,070, so pay in Western Washington, WA is 19.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Western Washington, WA earns more than $69,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,180 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Seattle, at $62,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 450 jobs in this occupation in Western Washington, WA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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