Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Virginia
The median dentist earns $197,110 a year in Virginia ($94.76 an hour), with the middle half earning between $134,870 and $259,530.[1]
25th percentile
$134,870
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$197,110
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$259,530
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $197,110 per year or $94.76/hr at the median. Virginia runs about 15% higher 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 dentists 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 | $50.67 | $105,400 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $64.84 | $134,870 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $94.76 | $197,110 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $124.77 | $259,530 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $154.45 | $321,250 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $95.11 | $197,820 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Virginia
4,140
1.01
1.26
How Virginia compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $197,110 in Virginia vs. $170,950 nationally, $26,160 (15%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $105,400 vs. $86,250, 22% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $321,250 vs. $319,630, about the same.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 3.8% in Virginia vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Virginia
All 9 Virginia metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $218,880 | $159,200–$257,920 | 650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $184,540 | $156,460–$229,130 | 3,040 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $177,400 | $134,870–$211,940 | 720 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $173,810 | $127,990–$246,050 | 90 |
| Lynchburg | $167,440 | $126,780–$214,970 | 80 |
| Charlottesville | $162,400 | $130,350–$225,410 | 130 |
| Harrisonburg | $159,220 | $134,700–$221,320 | 70 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $158,820 | $128,150–$210,110 | 40 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $128,140 | $127,400–$192,350 | 40 |
Job outlook for dentists in Virginia
Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 3.8% over 2024–2034, from 4,360 to 4,520 jobs, with about 140 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dentist (all dentists, including specialists) employment to grow 6% over 2025–35, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,800 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 dentist pay in Virginia
Pay for a dentist 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
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dentist roles in Virginia, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Virginia: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Virginia?
The median annual wage for dentists in Virginia was $197,110 ($94.76 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $134,870 and $259,530. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $105,400 and the top 10% earned over $321,250. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Virginia earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Virginia median of $197,110 is higher than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $26,160 (15%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Virginia metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 9 Virginia metro areas with published BLS data, Richmond has the highest median at $218,880 a year. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford has the lowest, at $128,140.
How many dentists work in Virginia?
BLS estimates 4,140 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Virginia in May 2025. That is 1.01 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.26, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Virginia?
Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 3.8% over 2024–2034, from 4,360 to 4,520 jobs. That works out to about 140 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in Virginia?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Virginia
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021), 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: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)