How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across West Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Charleston, West Virginia earns $18.31 per hour, or $38,090 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,174 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,270, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,270.
That pay is right at the West Virginia figure of $37,960 and 21% below the national figure of $48,070. Charleston ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in West Virginia for Dental Assistant pay. About 210 Dental Assistants work in the Charleston area.
Dental Assistant pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.31 an hour, or $38,090 a year.
- That is right at the West Virginia figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,270; the top 10% make over $57,270.
- Typical pay rose +26% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $16.47 an hour to more than $27.54 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,270$16.47 an hour | $31,760$15.27 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $35,460$17.05 an hour | $36,360$17.48 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $38,090$18.31 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,720$23.42 an hour | $45,180$21.72 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,270$27.54 an hour | $52,630$25.30 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Charleston was $30,160 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,090, a change of +26%, compared with +37% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Martinsburg pays Dental Assistants the most in West Virginia at $46,690 a year, $8,600 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Parkersburg at $36,820.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $46,690 | $22.45 | +23% | 260 |
| 2 | Wheeling | $44,610 | $21.45 | +17% | 110 |
| 3 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $43,790 | $21.05 | +15% | 60 |
| 4 | Huntington | $42,660 | $20.51 | +12% | 240 |
| 5 | Morgantown | $38,540 | $18.53 | +1% | 100 |
| 6 | Charleston | $38,090 | $18.31 | this city | 210 |
| 7 | Beckley | $37,410 | $17.98 | -2% | 110 |
| 8 | Vienna metro incl. Parkersburg | $36,820 | $17.70 | -3% | 70 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $37,960
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,090 a year, 21% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 2.0 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. That makes Dental Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Charleston, WV?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Charleston earns $38,090 a year, or $18.31 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,270 and the top 10% earn over $57,270.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Charleston is $18.31. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.47, and the top 10% earn over $27.54 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Charleston?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Charleston typically offer around $16.47 an hour, or $34,270 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is right at the West Virginia figure of $37,960 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Martinsburg pays the most in West Virginia at $46,690.