Dental Salaries in Charleston, West Virginia

Dentist: a median of $152,980 a year ($73.55 an hour). That is $17,390 below the West Virginia dentist median of $170,370 and $17,970 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 4 West Virginia metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $65,520 a year ($31.50 an hour). That is $8,320 below the West Virginia dental hygienist median of $73,840 and $32,580 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 6th of the 7 West Virginia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $38,090 a year ($18.31 an hour). That is $130 above the West Virginia dental assistant median of $37,960 and $9,980 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 5th of the 7 West Virginia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Charleston dentists earn $129,990 to $194,320. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $128,770 (against $96,270 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $302,070 (against $362,930 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $173,300.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Charleston dental hygienists earn $64,730 to $75,190. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $62,510 (against $59,950 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $76,200 (against $83,430 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $13,690.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Charleston dental assistants earn $35,460 to $48,720. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,270 (against $31,760 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $57,270 (against $52,630 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $23,000.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Charleston metro's 2024 price level at 88.7 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 11.3% below the national average, and housing costs (index 51.4) run 48.6% below. West Virginia as a whole sits at 89.5.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $152,980 here buys about what $172,440 buys at national average prices — $1,490 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $65,520 here buys about what $73,850 buys at national average prices — $24,250 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $38,090 here buys about what $42,930 buys at national average prices — $5,140 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 70 jobs in the metro, or 0.641 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 20% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.80). BLS rates this Charleston count as imprecise (relative standard error 25.9%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 260 jobs in the metro, or 2.53 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 77% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.77).

Dental Assistants: about 210 jobs in the metro, or 2.051 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 18% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.82).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Huntington (59 mi) pays $168,210, Kingsport, Tennessee (127 mi) pays $173,810 and Staunton, Virginia (129 mi) pays $158,820. Charleston's $152,980 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Huntington (59 mi) pays $73,470, Kingsport, Tennessee (127 mi) pays $82,870 and Staunton, Virginia (129 mi) pays $100,350. Charleston's $65,520 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Huntington (59 mi) pays $42,660, Kingsport, Tennessee (127 mi) pays $45,110 and Staunton, Virginia (129 mi) pays $45,810. Charleston's $38,090 is below all 3.