Dental Assistant salary in West Virginia
The verified BLS median dental assistant in West Virginia earns $37,960 ($18.25/hr). West Virginia pays roughly 21% below the national median of $48,070.
Dental Assistant pay in West Virginia: the analysis
At a verified median of $37,960, dental assistants in West Virginia earn notably below the U.S. median of $48,070 — a gap of about 21%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental assistant pay, West Virginia ranks 50th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental assistants in this state earn around $31,760, while the top tenth earn $52,630 or more — a spread of about $20,870. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 1,290 dental assistants employed in West Virginia — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within West Virginia, a dental assistant earns about 4.5× less than a general dentist and about 1.9× less than a dental hygienist ($170,370, $73,840 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, dental assistant pay is highest in Wheeling at about $44,610 and lowest in Parkersburg at about $36,820. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Assistant pay distribution — West Virginia (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $31,760 | $15.27/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $36,360 | $17.48/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $37,960 | $18.25/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $45,180 | $21.72/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $52,630 | $25.30/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $41,280 | $19.85/hr |
Dental Assistant pay by metro in West Virginia
All 7 West Virginia metros where BLS publishes a dental assistant wage — highest first. State median: $37,960.
- Wheeling$44,610+18%
- Weirton$43,790+15%
- Huntington$42,660+12%
- Morgantown$38,540+2%
- Charleston$38,090
- Beckley$37,410-1%
- Parkersburg$36,820-3%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the West Virginia median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental assistant wage are not listed.
Estimate your pay
Open calculatorKnow a real number we don’t?
Submit your compensation anonymously. We review every entry and publish only de-identified aggregates above a sample-size threshold.
Submit your salary →Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in West Virginia?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental assistant in West Virginia earns about $37,960 ($18.25/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
Last updated