Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dentist Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk

The median dentist earns $177,400 a year in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro, with the middle half between $134,870 and $211,940.[1]

25th percentile

$134,870

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$177,400

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$211,940

Upper end of the middle half

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk runs about 14% lower than the North Carolina median and ranks 10th of 15 North Carolina metros. It is about 4% higher than the national median.

Note: BLS figures reflect employed dentists. Many dentists own their practices, and owner earnings aren't included. That can make high-ownership areas read lower than you'd expect.

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk pay range vs. North Carolina and the U.S.

Dentist annual wages: Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk vs. North Carolina vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMetro annualNorth Carolina annualU.S. annual
10th percentile$106,470$107,810$86,250
25th percentile$134,870$151,810$125,710
Median$177,400$207,000$170,950
75th percentile$211,940$232,880$224,040
90th percentile$298,950$337,630$319,630
Mean (average)$184,210$207,550$191,350

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] Gross wages for employees; excludes the self-employed. Comparisons in this page are DSO Hire calculations and are not adjusted for cost of living.

Employed in metro

720

About 17% of North Carolina's total (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.95

North Carolina: 0.84

Location quotient

1.18

1.00 = U.S. average; more concentrated than the national average

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Dentist salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk: FAQ

How much do dentists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?

The median dentist salary in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area is $177,400, with the middle half earning between $134,870 and $211,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The full range runs from $106,470 at the 10th percentile to $298,950 at the 90th.

Is Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk higher or lower than the rest of North Carolina?

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk runs about 14% lower than the North Carolina state median for dentists. It ranks 10th of 15 North Carolina metro areas by median pay. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures.)

How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk compare nationally?

Dentist pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk is about 4% higher than the U.S. median. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures, not adjusted for cost of living.)

How many dentists work in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area?

BLS estimates 720 dentists were employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area in May 2025. Its location quotient is 1.18, so the role is more concentrated than the national average.