Unity Care NW logo
Unity Care NW
Bellingham, Washington

General Dentist

DentalFull-Time

Listed compensation

$149k-$186k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Compensation

  • Salaried, exempt
  • The standard wage range for this role is $148,803 - $185,993 per year.
  • It may be possible to earn more over time up to $223,267 per year.

Work Schedule: Full-time at 40 hours per week

Schedule is four days per week working 10-hour days

Who We Are

Unity Care NW is a private, non-profit, federally qualified health center (FQHC) that has been proudly and successfully serving the greater Whatcom County area since 1982.

With clinics located in Bellingham & Ferndale, we offer comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, as well as pharmacy services to a diverse and often underserved patient population of all ages.

Employing more than 300 caring and compassionate employees, our mission is to increase the years of healthy life in the people & communities we serve.

  • What We Value
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Accountability
  • Collaboration

Innovation

We strive to demonstrate our Values in Action in all that we do. We value each individual on our team and aim to onboard a workforce of the very best talent, whose ambitions and values align with ours.

Job Summary

Unity Care NW is dedicated to breaking the cycle of dental disease that runs in families. As a General Dentist, you would be responsible for providing quality dental care to all UCNW patients.

What We Offer

  • A friendly and collaborative team environment
  • A robust orientation followed by a ramp up period
  • A fully implemented EHR system (Dentrix with eRX)

A Competitive Compensation Package

A salaried position in a collegial work environment without the overhead and cost of running your own private practice

Loan Repayment Application Opportunities

Employment at UCNW counts towards eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness – details can be viewed at Federal Student Aid.

Eligible providers may apply for loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC Loan Repayment Program | NHSC (hrsa.gov)) and/or the Washington Student Achievement Council (Washington Health Corps | WSAC)

While employes at UCNW are eligible to apply for these loan repayment awards, receipt is not guaranteed.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, & vision insurance
  • Generous paid time off
  • Six paid holidays
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer match after 1 year of eligibility
  • Malpractice insurance through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) with tail coverage
  • Continuing Education (days & dollars)
  • Reimbursement of state license & DEA
  • Alternative transportation incentives
  • Annual Healthy Living reimbursements
  • Other paid leaves for Bereavement, Jury Duty & Bone Marrow/Organ Donation

Life/AD&D Insurance

  • Variety of optional insurances including Supplementary Life/AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident, and Travel as well as Identity Theft Protection
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Self-funded Health Savings Account on Base Medical Insurance Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Unique programs including Medical Hardship Payroll Loans, Employee Referral Bonuses & Will preparation services

Requirements

DDS or DMD credential current Washington State Dentist License or be eligible to apply current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration with ability to prescribe Schedules 2, 2N, 3, 3N, 4 and 5, or eligible to obtain one

Other Qualifications

one or more years of experience as a clinical dentist preferred, especially in a community or public health setting reliable & team-oriented with a collaborative approach to practice ability to use Electronic Dental Records, specifically Dentrix & eRX, and Microsoft Office programs ability to understand and respond effectively and with sensitivity to children of all ages and special populations served by UCNW - special populations include those defined by race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, sexual orientation, economic standing, disability, migrant and seasonal workers, experiencing homelessness and others.

About Bellingham

Bellingham, a popular university & retirement community of over 80,000 is nestled on Bellingham Bay at the foot of the Cascade Mountains. Just a short distance from Seattle, Vancouver BC, and the San Juan Islands, Whatcom County houses several charming small towns. Enjoy all the area has to offer:

Recreational & Outdoor Activities (Hiking, Biking, Skiing, Snow Boarding, Fishing, Sailing, Kayaking, & Camping)

  • Excellent Schools (University, Community College, Technical School, & Outstanding K-12 Educational System)
  • Small Town or City Living (Unique Shops, Local Festivals, Farmers Markets, Berry Picking, & Community Events)
  • Cultural Activities (Theater, Music, Independent Films, Museums, Art Studios, & Diverse Local Restaurants)

To Apply

Visit our Careers Page at Join Our Team – Unity Care NW or contact Tami Livingston, HR Generalist, at 360-676-6177. For news on our organization & future job postings, please follow us on LinkedIn at bit. ly.

If you feel this job posting is missing any required compensation or benefit information, please contact HR@ucnw.org. Other questions can be addressed throughout the recruitment process for candidates selected to move forward.

Unity Care NW has an Employee Health Program for the safety of our patients and staff. The program requires all new employees to have up to date vaccines for influenza and strongly encourages up to date vaccines for COVID-19. More information about this program is provided throughout the recruitment process.

Key Responsibilities

The General Dentist is responsible for providing high-quality dental care to a diverse patient population at Unity Care NW clinics. The role focuses on breaking the cycle of dental disease and ensuring comprehensive oral health services for all patients.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Certifications

DEA License

Key Skills

General dentistryPatient careClinical dentistryPublic health dentistryTreatment planningOral health educationCommunicationTeamworkCultural competence

Dentistry Career Context

Unity Care NW holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 74/100, 4 active listings.

Of the 50 active Dentist listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 36% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$167k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $156k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$167k midpoint, that is roughly $7k–$12k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Dentist Jobs

22 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution22 jobs · 17 employers

6
<$300k
6
$300k-350k
6
$350k-400k
1
$400k
3
$450k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks20 jobs · 17 employers

CME allowance
65% this job
401k / retirement match
65% this job
Sign-on bonus
35%
Relocation assistance
35%
Loan repayment
20% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Endodontist

Freedom Dental Health · Wilmington, Delaware

$500K+
#2

Dentist

Westphalia Holdings · Topeka, Kansas

$230k-$461k
#3

Dentist – DDS / DMD

$300k-$450k
#4

General Dentist

$230k-$400k
+ 20 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 1.5
Better work-life than 20% of Dentist listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,154 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Bellingham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$676k≈ 4.5× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,951/mo≈ 16% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.3
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Bellingham, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Unity Care NW logo

About Unity Care NW

Hospitals and Health Care
Bellingham, Washington
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Generous paid time off
Six paid holidays
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Malpractice insurance through FTCA with tail coverage
Continuing Education (days & dollars)