How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Lacey, WA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Lacey, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Washington.
BLS OES May 2025 · Olympia · Lacey · Tumwater metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Lacey, Washington earns $23.51 per hour, or $48,890 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,074 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $46,320, and the top 10% of earners make over $65,730.
That pay is 16% below the Washington figure of $58,090 and 2% above the national figure of $48,070. Lacey ranks 9th of 12 metro areas in Washington for Dental Assistant pay. About 480 Dental Assistants work in the Olympia · Lacey · Tumwater area. Lacey is part of the Olympia · Lacey · Tumwater metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Tumwater and Olympia share these figures.
Dental Assistant pay in Lacey at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.51 an hour, or $48,890 a year.
- That is 16% below the Washington figure, ranking 9th of 12 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $46,320; the top 10% make over $65,730.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Lacey?
Pay in Lacey runs from entry-level positions at around $22.27 an hour to more than $31.60 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 Lacey
| Career stage | Lacey | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $46,320$22.27 an hour | $46,280$22.25 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $47,540$22.85 an hour | $48,780$23.45 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $48,890$23.51 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,210$28.47 an hour | $62,340$29.97 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $65,730$31.60 an hour | $68,230$32.80 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Olympia · Lacey · Tumwater area as BLS defines it
How Lacey compares with other Washington cities
Bellevue pays Dental Assistants the most in Washington at $62,040 a year, $13,150 more than Lacey. The lowest-paying area in the state is Yakima at $46,670.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lacey | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue | $62,040 | $29.83 | +27% | 7,100 |
| 2 | Hillsboro metro incl. Vancouver | $59,890 | $28.79 | +22% | 4,120 |
| 3 | Spokane Valley metro incl. Spokane | $50,980 | $24.51 | +4% | 1,000 |
| 4 | Bellingham | $49,830 | $23.96 | +2% | 410 |
| 5 | Port Orchard metro incl. Bremerton · Silverdale | $49,800 | $23.94 | +2% | 470 |
| 6 | Walla Walla | $49,790 | $23.94 | +2% | 110 |
| 7 | Kennewick metro incl. Richland | $49,540 | $23.82 | +1% | 520 |
| 8 | Anacortes metro incl. Mount Vernon | $49,530 | $23.81 | +1% | 230 |
| 9 | Lacey | $48,890 | $23.51 | this city | 480 |
| 10 | Wenatchee metro incl. East Wenatchee | $48,300 | $23.22 | -1% | 210 |
| 11 | Kelso metro incl. Longview | $47,500 | $22.84 | -3% | 190 |
| 12 | Yakima | $46,670 | $22.44 | -5% | 480 |
Every metro area in Washington with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Washington typical pay $58,090
Is Lacey a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Lacey sits close to the national figure: $48,890 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Olympia · Lacey · Tumwater area, about 3.7 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 Lacey, WA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Lacey earns $48,890 a year, or $23.51 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $46,320 and the top 10% earn over $65,730.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Lacey?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Lacey is $23.51. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.27, and the top 10% earn over $31.60 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Lacey?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Lacey typically offer around $22.27 an hour, or $46,320 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Lacey higher than in the rest of Washington?
- Lacey pay is 16% below the Washington figure of $58,090 a year, ranking 9th of 12 metro areas in the state. Bellevue pays the most in Washington at $62,040.