How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Washington, District of Columbia earns $22.85 per hour, or $47,540 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,962 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,790.
That pay is 22% below the District of Columbia figure of $60,580 and 1% below the national figure of $48,070. About 8,440 Dental Assistants work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
Dental Assistant pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.85 an hour, or $47,540 a year.
- That is 22% below the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,870; the top 10% make over $62,790.
- Typical pay rose +20% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $18.21 an hour to more than $30.19 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,870$18.21 an hour | $47,530$22.85 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $44,240$21.27 an hour | $58,590$28.17 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $47,540$22.85 an hour | $60,580$29.13 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,790$28.27 an hour | $74,220$35.68 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,790$30.19 an hour | $74,960$36.04 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Washington was $39,560 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,540, a change of +20%, compared with +49% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Washington sits close to the national figure: $47,540 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 2.7 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. Dental Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Washington, DC?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Washington earns $47,540 a year, or $22.85 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,870 and the top 10% earn over $62,790.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Washington is $22.85. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.21, and the top 10% earn over $30.19 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Washington?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Washington typically offer around $18.21 an hour, or $37,870 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is 22% below the District of Columbia figure of $60,580 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.