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Dental hygienist salary in Washington

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$131,160median pay per year in Washington, or $63.06 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $107,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $122,00025th percentile
  3. $131,160median
  4. $134,67075th percentile
  5. $162,050top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $98,100[3]

The median pay for dental hygienists in Washington was $131,160 a year in May 2025[1]. That was 33.7% higher than the US median for the job[6].

Jobs in WA
6,330[4]
Rank by median pay
3 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+33.7%[6]

How much do dental hygienists make in Washington?

Half of the dental hygienists in Washington earned more than $131,160 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $63.06 an hour[1]. The average was close, at $131,530 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for the job was $98,100[3]. Washington's median was $33,060 higher[6]. It was also $68,170 above the median for all jobs in the state, which was $62,990[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $107,090 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $162,050[2]. The middle half of the pay range ran from $122,000 to $134,670[2]. Washington had the 3rd highest median for the job among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5].

Among metro areas in or partly in Washington with a published median, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had the highest, at $133,740 a year[10]. Spokane-Spokane Valley had a median of $116,690[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out self-employed people, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Washington vs US pay

Pay for dental hygienists in Washington next to the national figures[1][3].

WAUS
Median per year$131,160[1]$98,100[3]
Median per hour$63.06[1]$47.16[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$107,090[2]$74,880[13]
Top 10% earn more than$162,050[2]$126,050[13]
Jobs6,330[4]222,740[3]

Pay by metro area in Washington

Metro areas in Washington with the most jobs for dental hygienists, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA[11]$133,7403,500
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$123,1002,380
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$116,690500
Kennewick-Richland, WA$122,480270
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA$122,950220
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$131,040190
Yakima, WA$120,690160
Bellingham, WA$124,850150

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for dental hygienists in the states that border Washington, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$122,0803,600
Idaho$94,6502,060

Median pay for dental hygienists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for dental hygienists are projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dental hygienist make in Washington?
The median pay for dental hygienists in Washington was $131,160 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $131,530[7].
How much does a dental hygienist make an hour in Washington?
The median was $63.06 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $51.49 an hour and the 90th percentile was $77.91[17].
Which city in Washington pays dental hygienists the most?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had the highest median among the metro areas with a published figure, at $133,740 a year[10].
Is Washington a good state for dental hygienists?
Washington had the 3rd highest median annual wage for the job among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $33,060 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a dental hygienist in Washington?
This is a US figure, not a Washington one. Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is an Associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training listed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Hygienists in Washington was $131,160 per year and $63.06 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dental Hygienists in Washington: 10th percentile $107,090, 25th percentile $122,000, 75th percentile $134,670, 90th percentile $162,050. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Hygienists in the US as a whole was $98,100 per year and $47.16 per hour, with about 222,740 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 6,330 people worked as Dental Hygienists in Washington (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Washington had the 3rd highest median annual wage for Dental Hygienists out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Hygienists in Washington ($131,160) was $33,060 (33.7%) higher than the US median ($98,100). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Hygienists in Washington was $131,530 per year and $63.24 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Hygienists in Washington was $68,170 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($62,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Washington was $62,990. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in Washington with a published median for Dental Hygienists, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median annual wage, $133,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dental Hygienists in the US: 10th percentile $74,880, 25th percentile $83,570, 75th percentile $108,480, 90th percentile $126,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Dental Hygienists in states that border Washington (highest first): Oregon $122,080; Idaho $94,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Dental Hygienists is projected to grow 8% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 15,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Dental Hygienists: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dental Hygienists in Washington: 10th percentile $51.49, 25th percentile $58.65, 75th percentile $64.75, 90th percentile $77.91. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Washington. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.