Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| District of Columbia | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $60,580 | $48,867 | +24% |
| Median hourly wage | $29.12 | $23.49 | +24% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $55,123.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in District of Columbia is $60,580, or about $29.12 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. District of Columbia is +24% above the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in District of Columbia typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 630 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $60,580, District of Columbia offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 334 of the 465 occupations reported in District of Columbia — higher than 28% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Healthcare Support Workers, All Other at $73,590, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $66,390, Massage Therapists at $64,110 — all figures are median annual wages for District of Columbia.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. District of Columbia levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 152.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 334 of the 465 occupations reported in District of Columbia — higher than 28% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in District of Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $73,590 | $400 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $66,390 | $60 |
| Massage Therapists | $64,110 | $120 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $63,400 | $40 |
| Pharmacy Aides | $59,960 | $120 |
| Phlebotomists | $51,980 | $180 |
District of Columbia levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 152.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 465 occupations in District of Columbia.