The Virginia Employment Commission has included dental assistants on their short list of high growth occupations that only require an associate’s degree, technical training or work experience.
In 2012, there were 8,455 dental assistants employed in Virginia. By 2022, this number is projected to make a considerable climb to 11,612. This employment change of 3,157 additional workers signifies an annual growth of 3.2% for the occupation.
In May 2012, the Virginia Employment Commission found that dental assistants’ salary earning potentials were partially linked to experience levels:
- Entry Level: $25,480/yr. or $12.25/hr.
- Median: $35,371/yr. or $17.00/hr.
- Experienced: $42,399/yr. or $20.38/hr.
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Dental assistants are considered a healthcare support occupation. In October 2014, research by the Virginia Employment Commission found salary and wage offers by job openings for healthcare support occupations were as follows:
- Entry Level: $19,877/yr. or $9.56/hr.
- Median: $27,747/yr. or $13.34/hr.
- Experienced: $40,888/yr. or $19.66/hr.
Geographic placement of employment can alter dental assistant salary prospects. In 2012, the Virginia Employment Commission listed the five top paying metropolitan areas for dental assistants:
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: $39,840/yr.
- Harrisonburg: $36,905/yr.
- Richmond: $36,570/yr.
- Charlottesville: $34,864/yr.
- Roanoke: $34,539/yr.
In the table displayed below, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics provides more salary and wage statistics for dental assistants across regional districts as of 2013:
Area name
Employment
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Hourly median wage
Hourly 75th percentile wage
Hourly 90th percentile wage
Annual median wage
Annual 75th percentile wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford VA
80
15.75
32760
14.40
18.81
21.35
29950
39120
44400
Charlottesville VA
230
17.05
35470
16.90
18.25
20.93
35150
37970
43530
Danville VA
80
14.70
30590
15.29
17.28
18.61
31810
35940
38710
Harrisonburg VA
130
17.59
36590
18.88
21.32
22.79
39280
44350
47410
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol TN-VA
350
15.07
31340
14.36
17.78
21.52
29880
36980
44770
Lynchburg VA
200
15.69
32640
14.84
18.26
22.03
30860
37970
45820
Richmond VA
1340
18.19
37830
17.93
21.12
23.22
37300
43930
48300
Roanoke VA
290
17.50
36410
17.19
20.01
22.14
35750
41610
46050
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News VA-NC
2090
14.74
30660
14.86
17.22
19.50
30900
35820
40560
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division
4890
18.76
39030
17.92
22.48
27.02
37270
46760
56200
Winchester VA-WV
110
16.41
34140
16.35
19.14
21.71
34010
39810
45160
Southwestern Virginia nonmetropolitan area
200
14.54
30230
14.19
16.10
17.95
29510
33490
37340
Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area
110
16.70
34740
16.16
18.27
21.82
33610
38000
45390
Northeastern Virginia nonmetropolitan area
90
14.78
30750
14.34
17.36
20.96
29830
36100
43590
Northwestern Virginia nonmetropolitan area
200
17.45
36300
16.91
19.01
22.41
35170
39540
46610
