Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary in Virginia
The median dental assistant earns $46,670 a year in Virginia ($22.44 an hour), with the middle half earning between $39,160 and $53,040.[1]
25th percentile
$39,160
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$46,670
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$53,040
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $46,670 per year or $22.44/hr at the median. Virginia runs about 3% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Virginia
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental assistants in Virginia earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Virginia hourly | Virginia annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.14 | $37,720 | $17.85 | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | $18.83 | $39,160 | $21.32 | $44,340 |
| Median | $22.44 | $46,670 | $23.11 | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $25.50 | $53,040 | $27.93 | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | $28.32 | $58,910 | $29.93 | $62,250 |
| Mean (average) | $22.83 | $47,490 | $24.13 | $50,200 |
How many dental assistants work in Virginia
10,760
2.62
1.05
How Virginia compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $46,670 in Virginia vs. $48,070 nationally, $1,400 (3%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $37,720 vs. $37,130, 2% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $58,910 vs. $62,250, 5% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 6% in Virginia vs. 6.4% nationally.
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Virginia
All 11 Virginia metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $47,760 | $39,100–$55,550 | 1,610 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $47,540 | $44,240–$58,790 | 8,440 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $46,670 | $39,020–$54,980 | 1,860 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $46,480 | $38,760–$48,220 | 120 |
| Winchester | $46,310 | $37,630–$48,710 | 180 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $45,810 | $37,440–$48,050 | 110 |
| Harrisonburg | $45,320 | $37,320–$48,200 | 170 |
| Roanoke | $45,170 | $36,800–$47,570 | 300 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $45,110 | $37,810–$47,560 | 320 |
| Lynchburg | $45,110 | $37,750–$46,730 | 230 |
| Charlottesville | $45,040 | $39,030–$49,090 | 280 |
Job outlook for dental assistants in Virginia
Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 6% over 2024–2034, from 11,160 to 11,840 jobs, with about 1,640 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental assistant employment to grow 7% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 53,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental assistant pay in Virginia
Pay for a dental assistant depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
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Dental Assistant salary in Virginia: FAQ
How much do dental assistants make in Virginia?
The median annual wage for dental assistants in Virginia was $46,670 ($22.44 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $39,160 and $53,040. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $37,720 and the top 10% earned over $58,910.
Do dental assistants in Virginia earn more than the national median?
No. The Virginia median of $46,670 is lower than the U.S. median of $48,070. That is $1,400 (3%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Virginia metro area pays dental assistants the most?
Among the 11 Virginia metro areas with published BLS data, Richmond has the highest median at $47,760 a year. Charlottesville has the lowest, at $45,040.
How many dental assistants work in Virginia?
BLS estimates 10,760 dental assistants were employed in Virginia in May 2025. That is 2.62 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.05, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dental assistants growing in Virginia?
Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dental assistants to grow 6% over 2024–2034, from 11,160 to 11,840 jobs. That works out to about 1,640 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 6.4%.
Hiring in Virginia?
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Other roles in Virginia
Dental Assistant salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Assistants (31-9091), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Virginia long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Assistants
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants