Pay by state / West Virginia
WV · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in West Virginia
West Virginia's 1,250 dental hygienists earned a mean of $71,290 in May 2025, 28% below the US mean and number 48 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $200,640 (+5% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for West Virginia. Dental assistants earned $41,280.
- 1Dental hygienists $71,290
- 2General dentists $200,640
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $41,280
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | WV mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 420 | 0.6 | $200,640 | $191,350 | +5% |
| Dental hygienists | 1,250 | 1.784 | $71,290 | $98,990 | -28% |
| Dental assistants | 1,290 | 1.836 | $41,280 | $50,200 | -18% |
How West Virginia ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for West Virginia.
- General dentists: number 15 of 47 published states for mean pay ($200,640, median $170,370), with 0.6 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 48 of 50 published states for mean pay ($71,290, median $73,840), with 1.784 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 49 of 50 published states for mean pay ($41,280, median $37,960), with 1.836 per 1,000 jobs.
West Virginia and the South Atlantic division
Among the 9 South Atlantic jurisdictions with published figures, West Virginia ranks 9 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $73,840 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region.
| South Atlantic | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $100,660 | – | $47,520 |
| District of Columbia | $127,910 | – | $63,360 |
| Florida | $88,320 | $195,930 | $48,500 |
| Georgia | $91,220 | $214,040 | $46,870 |
| Maryland | $109,090 | $185,740 | $50,720 |
| North Carolina | $93,640 | $207,550 | $51,510 |
| South Carolina | $84,980 | $181,570 | $47,310 |
| Virginia | $105,120 | $197,820 | $47,490 |
| West Virginia | $71,290 | $200,640 | $41,280 |
Staffing in West Virginia
There are 3 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in West Virginia, more than the national ratio of about 1.8 — hygienists carry more of the routine work here. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $112,570 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in West Virginia.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for West Virginia. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.