How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Kelso, WA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Kelso, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Washington.
BLS OES May 2025 · Longview · Kelso metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Kelso, Washington earns $22.84 per hour, or $47,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,958 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,010, and the top 10% of earners make over $61,640.
That pay is 18% below the Washington figure of $58,090 and 1% below the national figure of $48,070. Kelso ranks 11th of 12 metro areas in Washington for Dental Assistant pay. About 190 Dental Assistants work in the Longview · Kelso area. Kelso is part of the Longview · Kelso metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Longview share these figures.
Dental Assistant pay in Kelso at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.84 an hour, or $47,500 a year.
- That is 18% below the Washington figure, ranking 11th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,010; the top 10% make over $61,640.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Kelso?
Pay in Kelso runs from entry-level positions at around $18.76 an hour to more than $29.64 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Washington and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Kelso
| Career stage | Kelso | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,010$18.76 an hour | $46,280$22.25 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $46,210$22.22 an hour | $48,780$23.45 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $47,500$22.84 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,330$28.04 an hour | $62,340$29.97 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $61,640$29.64 an hour | $68,230$32.80 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Longview · Kelso area as BLS defines it
How Kelso compares with other Washington cities
Bellevue pays Dental Assistants the most in Washington at $62,040 a year, $14,540 more than Kelso. The lowest-paying area in the state is Yakima at $46,670.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Kelso | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue | $62,040 | $29.83 | +31% | 7,100 |
| 2 | Hillsboro metro incl. Vancouver | $59,890 | $28.79 | +26% | 4,120 |
| 3 | Spokane Valley metro incl. Spokane | $50,980 | $24.51 | +7% | 1,000 |
| 4 | Bellingham | $49,830 | $23.96 | +5% | 410 |
| 5 | Port Orchard metro incl. Bremerton · Silverdale | $49,800 | $23.94 | +5% | 470 |
| 6 | Walla Walla | $49,790 | $23.94 | +5% | 110 |
| 7 | Kennewick metro incl. Richland | $49,540 | $23.82 | +4% | 520 |
| 8 | Anacortes metro incl. Mount Vernon | $49,530 | $23.81 | +4% | 230 |
| 9 | Lacey | $48,890 | $23.51 | +3% | 480 |
| 10 | Wenatchee metro incl. East Wenatchee | $48,300 | $23.22 | +2% | 210 |
| 11 | Kelso metro incl. Longview | $47,500 | $22.84 | this city | 190 |
| 12 | Yakima | $46,670 | $22.44 | -2% | 480 |
Every metro area in Washington with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Washington typical pay $58,090
Is Kelso a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Kelso sits close to the national figure: $47,500 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Longview · Kelso area, about 4.6 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Kelso, WA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Kelso earns $47,500 a year, or $22.84 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,010 and the top 10% earn over $61,640.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Kelso?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Kelso is $22.84. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.76, and the top 10% earn over $29.64 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Kelso?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Kelso typically offer around $18.76 an hour, or $39,010 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Kelso higher than in the rest of Washington?
- Kelso pay is 18% below the Washington figure of $58,090 a year, ranking 11th of 12 metro areas in the state. Bellevue pays the most in Washington at $62,040.