How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists 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 Hygienist in Charleston, West Virginia earns $31.50 per hour, or $65,520 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,460 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $62,510, and the top 10% of earners make over $76,200.
That pay is 11% below the West Virginia figure of $73,840 and 33% below the national figure of $98,100. Charleston ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in West Virginia for Dental Hygienist pay. About 260 Dental Hygienists work in the Charleston area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $31.50 an hour, or $65,520 a year.
- That is 11% below the West Virginia figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $62,510; the top 10% make over $76,200.
- Typical pay rose +15% from 2015 to 2025, against +35% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $30.05 an hour to more than $36.64 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $62,510$30.05 an hour | $59,950$28.82 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $64,730$31.12 an hour | $63,420$30.49 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $65,520$31.50 an hour | $73,840$35.50 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $75,190$36.15 an hour | $76,260$36.67 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $76,200$36.64 an hour | $83,430$40.11 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Charleston was $56,960 a year. By 2025 it had reached $65,520, a change of +15%, compared with +35% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Martinsburg pays Dental Hygienists the most in West Virginia at $83,460 a year, $17,940 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Beckley at $64,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $83,460 | $40.13 | +27% | 170 |
| 2 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $75,240 | $36.17 | +15% | 50 |
| 3 | Vienna metro incl. Parkersburg | $74,190 | $35.67 | +13% | 70 |
| 4 | Morgantown | $73,840 | $35.50 | +13% | 120 |
| 5 | Huntington | $73,470 | $35.32 | +12% | 180 |
| 6 | Wheeling | $72,540 | $34.88 | +11% | 110 |
| 7 | Charleston | $65,520 | $31.50 | this city | 260 |
| 8 | Beckley | $64,730 | $31.12 | -1% | 100 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $73,840
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $65,520 a year, 33% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 2.5 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.4. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Hygienists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Charleston, WV?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Charleston earns $65,520 a year, or $31.50 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $62,510 and the top 10% earn over $76,200.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Charleston is $31.50. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.05, and the top 10% earn over $36.64 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Charleston?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Charleston typically offer around $30.05 an hour, or $62,510 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is 11% below the West Virginia figure of $73,840 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Martinsburg pays the most in West Virginia at $83,460.