Dental Hygienist Salary in Seattle, WA
Dental Hygienists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $133,740 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $102,677 take-home, or $8,556 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental hygienist salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,832
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,292
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,939
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$102,677
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Hygienist pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $127,620 | $61.36 | $98,494 | $8,208 |
| 25th percentile | $132,850 | $63.87 | $102,069 | $8,506 |
| Median (50th) | $133,740 | $64.30 | $102,677 | $8,556 |
| 75th percentile | $160,190 | $77.01 | $120,756 | $10,063 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,850 | $78.29 | $122,574 | $10,214 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,740 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental hygienist's $102,677 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,391 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dental Hygienist jobs are about as common in Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for dental hygienists, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $102,677 | $92,391 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $100,249 | $86,711 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $104,930 | $82,648 | $83,797 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $123,100 | $85,463 | $81,069 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $112,630 | $81,930 | $78,161 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $101,870 | $80,496 | $78,083 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | $86,517 | $76,182 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,520 | $78,599 | $76,076 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: dental hygienists
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Seattle, WA?
The median dental hygienist salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $133,740 a year, or about $64.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $132,850 and $160,190.
What is a dental hygienist’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $133,740 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $102,677 a year ($8,556 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $98,100. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,391 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #1 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median dental hygienist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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