Dental Salaries in Washington, District of Columbia

Orthodontist: a median of $248,110 a year ($119.29 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Washington orthodontists, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Washington orthodontist wage estimate at ±23.8%. Treat the Washington orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $184,540 a year ($88.72 an hour). That is $13,590 above the national median of $170,950.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $119,170 a year ($57.30 an hour). That is $18,050 below the District of Columbia dental hygienist median of $137,220 and $21,070 above the national median of $98,100.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $61,250 a year ($29.45 an hour). That is $11,640 above the national median of $49,610.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,540 a year ($22.85 an hour). That is $13,040 below the District of Columbia dental assistant median of $60,580 and $530 below the national median of $48,070.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Washington orthodontists earn $248,110 to $347,620. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $98,300. The top tenth earn over $403,620. The gap between the two is $305,320.

Dentist: the middle half of Washington dentists earn $156,460 to $229,130. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $105,610 (against $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $324,370 (against $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $218,760.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Washington dental hygienists earn $103,340 to $125,560. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $94,290 (against $86,120 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $132,000 (against $155,840 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $37,710.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Washington dental lab technicians earn $47,180 to $76,540. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,750 (against $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $91,530 (against $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $53,780.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Washington dental assistants earn $44,240 to $58,790. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,870 (against $47,530 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,790 (against $74,960 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,920.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Washington metro's 2024 price level at 108.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.9% above the national average, and housing costs (index 151.1) run 51.1% above. District of Columbia as a whole sits at 109.9.

Converted to national average prices:

• Orthodontist: $248,110 here buys about what $227,870 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $184,540 here buys about what $169,480 buys at national average prices — $1,470 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $119,170 here buys about what $109,450 buys at national average prices — $11,350 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $61,250 here buys about what $56,250 buys at national average prices — $6,640 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $47,540 here buys about what $43,660 buys at national average prices — $4,410 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 3,040 jobs in the metro, or 0.97 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 21% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.21).

Dental Hygienists: about 2,200 jobs in the metro, or 0.702 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 51% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.49).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 490 jobs in the metro, or 0.155 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 30% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.70).

Dental Assistants: about 8,440 jobs in the metro, or 2.69 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 8% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.08).

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

Orthodontist: Baltimore, Maryland (60 mi) pays $361,040, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (138 mi) pays $311,180 and Durham, North Carolina (215 mi) pays $199,990.

Dentist: Hagerstown, Maryland (57 mi) pays $168,450, Baltimore, Maryland (60 mi) pays $172,110 and Lexington Park, Maryland (63 mi) pays $170,960. Washington's $184,540 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Hagerstown, Maryland (57 mi) pays $83,460, Baltimore, Maryland (60 mi) pays $116,130 and Lexington Park, Maryland (63 mi) pays $104,460. Washington's $119,170 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Baltimore, Maryland (60 mi) pays $47,200, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (107 mi) pays $49,110 and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (138 mi) pays $50,850. Washington's $61,250 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Hagerstown, Maryland (57 mi) pays $46,690, Baltimore, Maryland (60 mi) pays $48,410 and Lexington Park, Maryland (63 mi) pays $48,030. Washington's $47,540 is below 2 of the 3.