Dental Assistant Salaries in West Virginia
West Virginia is one of the smaller states and has a population of just over 1.77 million people. There are no large urban areas in this state, but many of those who live in West Virginia are growing older and becoming more proactive about their dental habits and their overall health. This means there are opportunities for dental assistants and other trained healthcare professionals across the state.
Employment opportunities for dental assistants in West Virginia are expected to grow approximately 13.8 percent between 2016 and 2026. Currently there’s an average of 160 annual openings for dental assistants in this state.
In West Virginia, the overall cost of living is lower than average in the United States. Because of this lower cost of living, the average annual salary paid to dental assistants in this state is lower than the national average across the country.
| AreaName | Base Year | Employed | Projection Year | Projected Employment | Change | % Change | Projected Average Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2018 | 346,000 | 2026 | 384,700 | 38,700 | 19.5% | 44,800 |
| West Virginia | 2016 | 1,230 | 2026 | 1,400 | 170 | 13.8% | 160 |
| State | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | 351,470 | $19.79 | $41,170 | $27,980 | $33,440 | $40,080 | $48,550 | $56,930 |
| West Virginia | 1,220 | $15.73 | $32,710 | $21,300 | $26,480 | $32,080 | $38,390 | $45,220 |
West Virginia primarily consists of rural areas. The largest number of career opportunities for dental assistants are in Huntington, Charleston and Martinsburg. The highest paid opportunities tend to be in Martinsburg and Morgantown.
| Area | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 100 | $14.49 | $30,140 | $19,830 | $21,410 | $29,330 | $34,770 | $39,930 |
| Charleston, WV | 200 | $14.87 | $30,930 | $20,810 | $25,400 | $30,500 | $36,370 | $42,240 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 80 | $19.20 | $39,940 | $27,800 | $34,780 | $41,060 | $46,500 | $50,190 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 180 | $19.38 | $40,320 | $29,570 | $34,250 | $40,900 | $47,090 | $51,180 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 280 | $15.92 | $33,110 | $22,140 | $26,430 | $32,530 | $38,800 | $47,120 |
| Morgantown, WV | 70 | $17.41 | $36,210 | $26,140 | $30,780 | $35,990 | $42,000 | $48,610 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 80 | $15.91 | $33,090 | $21,300 | $27,190 | $31,260 | $36,860 | $51,440 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 6050 | $23.01 | $47,860 | $28,990 | $36,740 | $46,100 | $56,500 | $70,490 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 60 | $15.89 | $33,050 | $21,180 | $26,330 | $31,950 | $39,710 | $47,050 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 100 | $16.01 | $33,310 | $20,980 | $27,230 | $35,070 | $39,060 | $42,230 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 140 | $19.75 | $41,080 | $27,680 | $33,150 | $40,700 | $49,060 | $56,560 |
Dental assistants in West Virginia typically earn more than healthcare workers in similar fields such as medical assistants, pharmacy technicians and nursing assistants. Jobs for physical therapist assistants pay more than those for dental assistants.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Hourly Mean | Annual Mean | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Annual Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 3270 | $14.61 | $30,380 | $22,140 | $25,390 | $29,200 | $35,110 | $40,370 |
| Nursing Assistants | 7830 | $12.93 | $26,900 | $20,840 | $22,560 | $25,490 | $29,870 | $35,590 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 760 | $25.68 | $53,410 | $39,520 | $45,050 | $52,700 | $61,450 | $70,920 |
| Dental Assistants | 1220 | $15.73 | $32,710 | $21,300 | $26,480 | $32,080 | $38,390 | $45,220 |
| Medical Assistants | 3280 | $13.80 | $28,710 | $21,790 | $24,790 | $28,250 | $31,780 | $37,190 |