District of Columbia Median
$60,580
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.13
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+26% vs US median
US median $48,070
State Rank
#2 of 50
630 employed here
How much does a Dental Assistant make in District of Columbia?
A Dental Assistant working in District of Columbia earns a median salary of $60,580 per year, or about $29.13 per hour. That is 26% above the national median of $48,070 for this occupation.
Within District of Columbia, entry-level pay starts around $47,530 while the top 10% make $74,960 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,590 and $74,220 a year.
Dental Assistant salary range in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,530 | $22.85 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $58,590 | $28.17 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,580 | $29.13 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $74,220 | $35.68 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,960 | $36.04 |
|
How District of Columbia compares
District of Columbia ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories for Dental Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Dental Assistant salary in other states
Minnesota $65,270Maine $60,070New Hampshire $59,530Oregon $59,490Washington $58,090Massachusetts $57,980North Dakota $57,770Alaska $57,710Connecticut $56,850Vermont $52,760North Carolina $50,380Rhode Island $50,150California $50,110New Jersey $49,390Arizona $49,000Michigan $48,820Indiana $48,670Maryland $48,620Illinois $48,610Iowa $48,430Colorado $48,340New York $48,110Ohio $47,970Pennsylvania $47,930South Dakota $47,900Kentucky $47,730Florida $47,620Delaware $47,600Wisconsin $47,520South Carolina $47,320Nevada $47,110Georgia $46,840Tennessee $46,720Montana $46,680Virginia $46,670Nebraska $46,660Missouri $45,970Idaho $45,880Oklahoma $45,740Texas $45,430Wyoming $44,990Hawaii $44,720New Mexico $44,400Louisiana $44,090Arkansas $42,830Mississippi $39,160Alabama $39,080West Virginia $37,960Utah $37,760
Working as a Dental Assistant in District of Columbia
Nationally, about 388,000 people work as Dental Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare District of Columbia pay ($60,580) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dental Assistant make in District of Columbia?
The median Dental Assistant salary in District of Columbia is $60,580 per year, or about $29.13 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $47,530 at the entry level to $74,960 for the top 10% of earners.
How does District of Columbia pay compare to the national average?
District of Columbia pays Dental Assistants about 26% more than the national median of $48,070. District of Columbia ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is District of Columbia a good state for Dental Assistants?
Yes on pay — District of Columbia pays above the national median for this occupation, at $60,580 a year. About 630 Dental Assistants are employed in District of Columbia. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in District of Columbia?
The highest-paying occupations in District of Columbia include Neurologist ($332,000), Emergency Medicine Physician ($318,200), Podiatrist ($265,740), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Dental Assistant salary report
Related salaries
$48,430
median pay · 110,000 employed
$47,700
median pay · 77,000 employed
$45,230
median pay · 144,000 employed
$44,470
median pay · 181,000 employed
$40,410
median pay · 42,000 employed
$38,150
median pay · 127,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.