Dental Salaries in Seattle, Washington

Dentist: a median of $161,270 a year ($77.54 an hour). That is $8,460 below the Washington dentist median of $169,730 and $9,680 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 9th of the 10 Washington metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $133,740 a year ($64.30 an hour). That is $2,580 above the Washington dental hygienist median of $131,160 and $35,640 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 11 Washington metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $62,040 a year ($29.83 an hour). That is $3,950 above the Washington dental assistant median of $58,090 and $13,970 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 11 Washington metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $57,610 a year ($27.70 an hour). That is $1,210 above the Washington dental lab technician median of $56,400 and $8,000 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 3 Washington metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Seattle dentists earn $106,660 to $227,980. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $67,870 (against $85,240 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $335,210 (against $346,840 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $267,340.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Seattle dental hygienists earn $132,850 to $160,190. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $127,620 (against $107,090 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $162,850 (against $162,050 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $35,230.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Seattle dental assistants earn $49,370 to $63,070. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $48,900 (against $46,280 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,060 (against $68,230 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $23,160.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Seattle dental lab technicians earn $50,540 to $72,790. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,970 (against $39,970 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $78,390 (against $78,340 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $38,420.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Seattle metro's 2024 price level at 111.1 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 11.1% above the national average, and housing costs (index 151.3) run 51.3% above. Washington as a whole sits at 107.0.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $161,270 here buys about what $145,110 buys at national average prices — $25,840 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $133,740 here buys about what $120,340 buys at national average prices — $22,240 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $62,040 here buys about what $55,830 buys at national average prices — $7,760 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $57,610 here buys about what $51,840 buys at national average prices — $2,230 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 1,920 jobs in the metro, or 0.919 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 15% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.15).

Dental Hygienists: about 3,500 jobs in the metro, or 1.68 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 17% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.17).

Dental Assistants: about 7,100 jobs in the metro, or 3.405 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 37% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.37).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 380 jobs in the metro, or 0.182 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold an 18% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.82).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Bremerton (39 mi) pays $171,320, Olympia (60 mi) pays $123,460 and Mount Vernon (69 mi) pays $212,000. Seattle's $161,270 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Bremerton (39 mi) pays $131,040, Olympia (60 mi) pays $122,950 and Mount Vernon (69 mi) pays $127,470. Seattle's $133,740 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Bremerton (39 mi) pays $49,800, Olympia (60 mi) pays $48,890 and Mount Vernon (69 mi) pays $49,530. Seattle's $62,040 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Salem, Oregon (186 mi) pays $55,050, Spokane (198 mi) pays $47,400 and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (240 mi) pays $47,760. Seattle's $57,610 is above all 3.