Dental Salaries in Huntington, West Virginia

Dentist: a median of $168,210 a year ($80.87 an hour). That is $2,160 below the West Virginia dentist median of $170,370 and $2,740 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 3rd of the 4 West Virginia metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $73,470 a year ($35.32 an hour). That is $370 below the West Virginia dental hygienist median of $73,840 and $24,630 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 4th of the 7 West Virginia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $47,740 a year ($22.95 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Huntington dental lab technicians, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown. Treat the Huntington dental lab technician figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Assistant: a median of $42,660 a year ($20.51 an hour). That is $4,700 above the West Virginia dental assistant median of $37,960 and $5,410 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 3rd of the 7 West Virginia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Huntington dentists earn $104,080 to $221,520. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $58,070 (against $96,270 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $357,490 (against $362,930 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $299,420.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Huntington dental hygienists earn $62,470 to $76,820. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $61,100 (against $59,950 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $82,190 (against $83,430 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,090.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Huntington dental lab technicians earn $37,220 to $50,600. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,220. The top tenth earn over $62,400. The gap between the two is $25,180.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Huntington dental assistants earn $36,310 to $46,370. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $32,120 (against $31,760 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $56,760 (against $52,630 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,640.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Huntington metro's 2024 price level at 88.4 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 11.6% below the national average, and housing costs (index 51.3) run 48.7% below. West Virginia as a whole sits at 89.5.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $168,210 here buys about what $190,240 buys at national average prices — $19,290 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $73,470 here buys about what $83,090 buys at national average prices — $15,010 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $47,740 here buys about what $53,990 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Assistant: $42,660 here buys about what $48,250 buys at national average prices — $180 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 70 jobs in the metro, or 0.529 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 34% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.66).

Dental Hygienists: about 180 jobs in the metro, or 1.266 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 12% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.88).

Dental Assistants: about 240 jobs in the metro, or 1.729 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 31% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.69).

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: Charleston (59 mi) pays $152,980, Lexington, Kentucky (102 mi) pays $114,990 and Cincinnati, Ohio (113 mi) pays $206,100. Huntington's $168,210 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Charleston (59 mi) pays $65,520, Lexington, Kentucky (102 mi) pays $80,110 and Cincinnati, Ohio (113 mi) pays $102,940. Huntington's $73,470 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Lexington, Kentucky (102 mi) pays $55,540, Cincinnati, Ohio (113 mi) pays $53,150 and Kingsport, Tennessee (121 mi) pays $48,880.

Dental Assistant: Charleston (59 mi) pays $38,090, Lexington, Kentucky (102 mi) pays $48,690 and Cincinnati, Ohio (113 mi) pays $49,590. Huntington's $42,660 is below 2 of the 3.