Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in West Virginia
The median dental specialist earns $235,370 a year in West Virginia ($113.16 an hour), with the middle half earning between $184,040 and $268,720.[1]
25th percentile
$184,040
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$235,370
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$268,720
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $235,370 per year or $113.16/hr at the median. West Virginia runs about 5% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in West 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 specialists in West Virginia earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | West Virginia hourly | West Virginia annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29.58 | $61,530 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $88.48 | $184,040 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $113.16 | $235,370 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $129.19 | $268,720 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $154.93 | $322,250 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $102.67 | $213,550 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in West Virginia
40
0.06
1.88
How West Virginia compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $235,370 in West Virginia vs. $224,990 nationally, $10,380 (5%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $61,530 vs. $104,120, 41% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $322,250 vs. $402,700, 20% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 2.3% in West Virginia vs. 0% nationally.
Dental Specialist pay by metro area in West Virginia
BLS publishes one West Virginia metro area for this role.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $207,450 | $197,970–$212,850 | Not published |
Job outlook for dental specialists in West Virginia
West Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to grow 2.3% over 2024–2034, from 40 to 40 jobs, with about 0 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 0%.
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 specialist pay in West Virginia
Pay for a dental specialist 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 Specialist salary in West Virginia: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in West Virginia?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in West Virginia was $235,370 ($113.16 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $184,040 and $268,720. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $61,530 and the top 10% earned over $322,250. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in West Virginia earn more than the national median?
Yes. The West Virginia median of $235,370 is higher than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $10,380 (5%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental specialists work in West Virginia?
BLS estimates 40 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in West Virginia in May 2025. That is 0.06 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.88, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental specialists growing in West Virginia?
West Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to grow 2.3% over 2024–2034, from 40 to 40 jobs. That works out to about 0 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 0%.
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Other roles in West Virginia
Dental Specialist salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, All Other Specialists (29-1029), 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, West Virginia long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists