Dental Assistants pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,270 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Charleston earn between $35,460 and $48,720.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $49K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,640 | $3,553 | $20.50 |
| Median | $38,090 | $3,174 | $18.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,460 | $2,955 | $17.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,720 | $4,060 | $23.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Charleston earn 3% more than the West Virginia average ($41,280) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $42,640 | $38,090 | $34,270 | $57,270 | 210 |
| West Virginia | $41,280 | $37,960 | $31,760 | $52,630 | 1,290 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in Charleston
On the average salary of $42,640, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $35,308 a year, or $2,942 a month and $1,358 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $42,640 buys what about $48,063 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 4th of 7 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Wheeling pays the most ($45,810).
- Wheeling$45,810
- Weirton$44,810
- Huntington$42,720
- Charleston$42,640
- Morgantown$41,530
- Beckley$40,460
- Parkersburg$40,100
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in Charleston: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Charleston?
$20.50 an hour on average, and $18.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Charleston?
About $35,308 a year ($2,942 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,640.
Do dental assistants earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9091; area Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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