Launch your dental career with free online training. Virginia dental assistants earn $48,540+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$48,540/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
5,000+
Population 65+
16.5
Training Cost
FREE
Old Dominion offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 5,000+ dental practices and a population where 16.5 are over 65.
Virginia dental assistants earn $48,540 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $52,000 - $60,000.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across Virginia.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
Virginia requires dental assistants to be certified by the Virginia Board of Dentistry. Certification requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Virginia offers Dental Assistant II credentials for expanded functions through additional training and examination.
Virginia requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or Virginia state exam. Radiography certification is part of DA certification requirements and must be renewed.
Highest wages, affluent DC suburbs
Norfolk, Virginia Beach, naval presence
State capital, VCU dental school
University of Virginia area
Western Virginia hub
Virginia offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 300+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 520 N 12th St, Richmond, VA 23298
Virginia's only dental school in Richmond with comprehensive programs.
View Careers →Employees: 800+
Facilities: 40+ locations
Location: Multiple VA locations
National DSO with extensive Virginia presence.
View Careers →Employees: 400+
Facilities: 20+ locations
Location: Multiple VA locations
Doctor-led DSO with strong Virginia footprint.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: Hampton Roads
Major Hampton Roads health system with dental services.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia's leading health system with dental services.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 4 locations
Location: Richmond area
Community health center serving Richmond's underserved populations.
View Careers →Employees: 50+
Facilities: 2 locations
Location: Richmond
Community health center serving Richmond's uninsured and underserved.
View Careers →Employees: 7,200+
Facilities: 4,200+ practices
Location: Statewide
Diverse private practices from NoVA to Southwest Virginia.
View Careers →Michelle T.
Arlington • Private Practice
"Northern Virginia wages rival DC with Virginia's lower cost of living. Best of both worlds!"
2024-11
David K.
Richmond • VCU Dental
"Working at Virginia's dental school provides excellent experience and state benefits."
2024-10
Amanda R.
Virginia Beach • Sentara Healthcare
"Hampton Roads military families are great patients. Health system provides stability!"
2024-09
Virginia dental assistants earn an average of $48,540 annually ($23.34/hour). Entry-level positions start at $39,000-$44,500, while experienced DAs earn $52,000-$60,000. Northern Virginia pays highest at $48,000-$58,000 near DC. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, Virginia requires dental assistants to be certified by the Board of Dentistry. Certification requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. Dental Assistant II credentials require additional training for expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. Virginia certification requires proof of training plus radiography certification. The complete process typically takes 2-3 months from enrollment to employment.
Excellent outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. Virginia's 8.6 million population, 5,000+ dental practices, and VCU dental school create strong demand. Northern Virginia's DC proximity and Hampton Roads' naval presence drive opportunities.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for Virginia certification fee, radiography certification exam, and any optional certifications when ready. Many Virginia employers reimburse certification costs.
Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun) leads with $48,000-$58,000 as affluent DC suburbs. Richmond offers $44,000-$51,000 near VCU dental school. Hampton Roads provides $43,000-$50,000 with military/naval family patient base.
Virginia offers: (1) VCU dental school creating academic employment, (2) Northern Virginia DC metro access with VA credentials, (3) Hampton Roads naval presence providing military family care, (4) Diverse regions from urban NoVA to rural Appalachia, (5) Strong health system presence.
DC and Maryland have different requirements, so direct reciprocity isn't automatic. However, DANB certification is nationally recognized. Many Northern Virginia dental assistants explore DC opportunities. Verify current requirements with DC and Maryland boards.
Join thousands of Virginia residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredVirginia's dental workforce serves approximately 8.6 million residents through an estimated 5,000+ dental practices. Northern Virginia (DC suburbs), Hampton Roads, and Richmond metro dominate dental employment, with varied markets throughout the Commonwealth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Virginia employed approximately 13,800 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $48,540—above the national median, influenced by Northern Virginia's high wages.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond is Virginia's only dental school. The school trains approximately 100 dentists annually and creates clinical education employment opportunities for dental assistants.
Northern Virginia's position in the Washington, DC metropolitan area creates premium wages reflecting federal workforce influence and high cost of living. Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties consistently offer Virginia's highest dental assistant wages.
Hampton Roads' significant naval presence (Norfolk Naval Station, largest in the world) creates steady dental service demand from military families. Many practices serve both active-duty family members and civilian populations.
Southwest Virginia's Appalachian communities face dental provider shortages and health disparities. Community health centers and Rural Health Clinics serve these populations with potential loan repayment benefits and meaningful community impact.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.