DG Accounting Professionals LLC
Washington Dental Practice
Payroll Analytics
Access the complete 2026 Payroll Survey with 2025 data covering 3,047 employees across 18 Washington counties.
2025 Survey Data — Updated for 2026
Washington Dental Practice
Payroll Analytics
Comprehensive analysis of 3,047 Washington State dental professionals across 18 counties
© 2026 DG Accounting Professionals LLC — All Rights Reserved
Total Employees 👥
3,047
Washington State
WA vs National 📈
+53%
Avg premium (staff roles)
Hygienist Median 💵
$70/hr
$50–$85 range
Assoc Dr Avg 🦷
$892/day
Est. $2,975/day production (at 30%)
This is an Interactive Dashboard — Not a Static Report
☟ Select a tab below (Overview, Comparison, Counties, Benefits, Assoc Doctors, Insights, 2026 vs 2025) to navigate between different sections of the survey data.
Hover your cursor over charts and graphs to reveal detailed data points and tooltips.
Scroll down within each tab to see additional data tables, trend comparisons, and the full glossary.
Hourly Rate Statistics by Position
Percentile Distribution
Workforce Composition
Distribution of 3,047 WA dental professionals by role — hover to explore
Washington vs National Wage Comparison
Why Washington Wages Exceed National Averages
Structural Factors
• Cost of living 49% above the national average
• State minimum wage ($16.66 vs federal $7.25)
• No state income tax drives higher gross wages
• Tech industry wage spillover effect
Market Reality
• Consistent 29–66% premium across all positions
• Tighter wage ranges indicate market standardization
• Workforce shortage drives wage competition
• Population growth fuels sustained demand
Western vs Eastern Washington Wage Divide
Click a region to filter • Hover for region detail
Geographic Insights
East vs West Divide
Western WA hygienists earn $69.83/hr avg vs Eastern WA's $56.67 — a 23% premium. The divide holds across all roles: DAs see a 21% gap, Admins 17%.
Seattle Metro Dominance
The tri-county Seattle Metro (King, Snohomish, Pierce) holds 71% of all payroll records. Metro hygienists average $70.81/hr — 25% above Eastern WA.
Population Growth Impact
WA's population of 8.04M (2024) is projected to reach 8.74M by 2033. High-growth counties drive wage pressure.
Hygienist Wages by County
Ranked by average hourly rate • Counties with more than 10 data points
Admin Wages by County
Ranked by average hourly rate • Counties with more than 10 data points
Dental Assistant Wages by County
Ranked by average hourly rate • Counties with more than 10 data points
Benefits Coverage by Position (%)
Annual Retirement Contributions
Annual Health Insurance Costs
PTO & Sick Leave Days (Among Those Receiving)
Employer-Paid Benefits Coverage
All dental staff roles (n=2,668) — excludes associate doctors
Key Benefits Findings
64.4% of staff receive NO employer-paid benefits
Nearly two-thirds of dental employees work without employer retirement or health insurance — a significant opportunity for practices looking to differentiate.
70.1% do NOT receive any retirement benefit
Only 29.9% receive employer retirement contributions — 401(k) match (20.5%) and SIMPLE IRA (8.2%). Offering a retirement plan is a powerful recruitment differentiator.
Only 14.9% receive employer-paid health insurance
Health benefits remain uncommon in dental practices. The 9.1% receiving both retirement and health represent the most competitive packages in the market.
Estimated Annual Employer Benefits Cost Per Role
Average employer-paid retirement + health insurance cost in addition to base salary
| Role | ER Retirement | ER Health | Avg ER Cost (all) | Avg ER Cost (participants) | % of Base |
|---|
ER = Employer contribution. "All staff" includes those receiving $0 benefits. "Participants" averages only those who receive benefits.
Associate Doctor Compensation
49 WA GP associate doctors • Daily pay based on 8-hour clinical day • Owner/partner/officer/specialist wages excluded
Note: Hourly wage is not an accurate measure for associate doctors. This section uses daily pay rates and estimates net production assuming 30% compensation.
Avg Daily Pay
$892
Per 8-hour day
Median Daily Pay
$800
50th percentile
Daily Pay Range
$554–$1,500
10th–90th: $612–$1,205
Most Common
$1,000/day
Mode daily rate
Estimated Daily Net Production
Associate doctors are typically compensated as a percentage of their daily adjusted production. The table below estimates implied daily production at each pay percentile assuming 30% compensation.
| Percentile | Daily Pay | Est. Production (at 30% comp) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $612 | $2,040 |
| 25th | $692 | $2,307 |
| 50th (Median) | $800 | $2,667 |
| 75th | $1,000 | $3,333 |
| 90th | $1,205 | $4,017 |
| Mean | $892 | $2,973 |
Example: A doctor paid $800/day (median) at a 30% compensation rate implies ~$2,667 in estimated daily net production.
Estimated Daily Production Range by Percentile
Key Observations
• Median daily pay of $800/day implies $2,667 in estimated daily net production (at 30% comp rate)
• Mean daily pay of $892/day implies $2,975 in estimated daily net production
• 49 GP associate doctors analyzed after removing owner/partner/officer wages and specialist outliers
• 26.3% of offices offer retirement; 7.0% offer health insurance (true GP associates only)
• Only 5.3% receive PTO, consistent with production-based arrangements
🏆 Key Findings
• 3,047 WA employees analyzed — outliers removed and roles reclassified for cleaner benchmarks
• King County hygienists ($71.57, max $85) lead all WA counties — 29% more than Chelan County ($55.65)
• All positions maintain 24–74% national premium
• Associate doctors: median $800/day, implying $2,667 estimated daily net production (at 30%)
• EFDAs command a premium: $41.85/hr avg vs $28.27 for DAs (+48%) and $28.38 for Admin (+47%)
• 77.3% of offices offer hygienists retirement plans — highest of all roles
📈 Strategic Recommendations
• Use county-specific benchmarks — statewide averages mask 20–30% East/West gaps
• Factor total compensation: benefits add $5K–$19K annually per employee
• EFDA utilization can offset rising hygienist costs (49% premium for expanded duties)
• Retirement benefits are a key differentiator — 68–77% of offices now offer them
• Associate doctor daily pay averages $892/day (median $800) — use local data for comp offers
• Plan for continued 3–5% annual increases given population growth and workforce shortage
Market Dynamics & Outlook
Washington Market Reality
• 33% wage gap between highest/lowest counties for hygienists
• Western WA commands 20–30% premium over Eastern WA
• King County represents 59% of hygienist data; Seattle/Bellevue is 56%
• Tech corridor effect strongest in King/Snohomish counties
• Washington State data exclusively — 3,047 payroll records analyzed
National Context
• WA consistently 29–66% above national averages across all roles
• Post-COVID workforce losses continue to impact supply nationwide
• Insurance reimbursement stagnation pressures practice margins
• Structural factors (COL, no income tax) maintain WA premium
• 54% of WA offices now offer health insurance (up from prior years)
Forecast: With 8.74M projected population by 2033, continued workforce shortages, and rising benefits expectations, expect sustained upward wage pressure — particularly in high-growth counties like King, Clark, and Snohomish. Practices should budget for 3–5% annual compensation increases to remain competitive.
Disclaimer: This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. The data presented is derived from Gusto payroll records and may not be representative of all dental practices in Washington State. Records below WA minimum wage ($16.66/hr) removed as data errors. Role reclassification applied: Admin/Office Manager split at $38/hr threshold; Dental Assistant capped at $38 with higher-paid records reclassified to EFDA; EFDA capped at $65; Hygienists below $50/hr removed via IQR. Associate Doctor owner/partner/officer wages excluded. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making compensation or business decisions. This analysis is prepared in accordance with AICPA professional standards. Data reflects 2025 payroll information for the 2026 survey cycle.
Year-over-Year Payroll Trends
2026 Survey (2025 Data) vs 2025 Survey (2024 Data) — Gusto payroll records, Washington State dental practices
Prior year dashboard: 2025 Survey (2024 Data) Interactive Dashboard
Average Hourly Rate — Prior Year vs Current
2024 data (blue) vs 2025 data (purple)
Detailed Year-over-Year Comparison
| Role | 2024 Avg | 2025 Avg | Avg Δ | 2024 Median | 2025 Median | Med Δ |
|---|
Professional Disclaimer
This analysis is prepared for informational and benchmarking purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Data represents survey averages and may not reflect the specific circumstances of any individual practice. Users should consult with a qualified professional before making financial or business decisions based on this data.
© 2026 DG Accounting Professionals LLC — All Rights Reserved