Launch your dental career with free online training. West Virginia dental assistants earn $40,210+ annually. Study at your pace, pay only when you're ready to certify.
Featured Image
800 x 600 recommended
Average Salary
$40,210/year
Job Growth
6 (2024-2034)
Dental Practices
1,100+
Population 65+
20.5
Training Cost
FREE
Mountain State offers excellent opportunities for dental assistants with 1,100+ dental practices and a population where 20.5 are over 65.
West Virginia dental assistants earn $40,210 annually on average, with experienced DAs earning $42,500 - $48,500.
6 projected job growth through 2034 as dental care demand increases across West Virginia.
Complete training in 4-8 weeks online. No prior experience needed. Start your dental career fast.
West Virginia requires dental assistants to register with the West Virginia Board of Dental Examiners. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. West Virginia offers Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA) credentials for additional clinical procedures through approved training.
West Virginia requires dental assistants to complete a Board-approved radiography course and pass the DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam or West Virginia state exam. Radiography certification is part of DA registration requirements and must be renewed.
State capital, largest market
WVU presence, growing area
Marshall University, Cabell-Huntington Hospital
Northern Panhandle, Ohio River Valley
Southern WV, coalfield region
West Virginia offers diverse dental employment opportunities from DSO networks to academic institutions.
Employees: 200+
Facilities: 1 dental school
Location: 104 Health Sciences Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506
West Virginia's only dental school serving the Mountain State.
View Careers →Employees: 200+
Facilities: 10+ locations
Location: Multiple WV locations
National DSO with West Virginia presence.
View Careers →Employees: 150+
Facilities: Multiple locations
Location: Throughout WV
Academic health system with dental services statewide.
View Careers →Employees: 100+
Facilities: 8 locations
Location: Southern WV
Community health center serving Southern West Virginia.
View Careers →Employees: 75+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Kanawha Valley
Community health center serving Charleston/Kanawha County.
View Careers →Employees: 50+
Facilities: 5 locations
Location: Central WV
Community health center serving rural Central West Virginia.
View Careers →Employees: 40+
Facilities: 2 locations
Location: Morgantown area
Community health center serving Morgantown's underserved.
View Careers →Employees: 1,600+
Facilities: 900+ practices
Location: Statewide
Private practices throughout West Virginia's communities.
View Careers →Amanda T.
Morgantown • WVU Dental
"West Virginia's dental school provides excellent education opportunities. Mountaineers are great!"
2024-11
Marcus R.
Charleston • Cabin Creek Health
"Community health work serves those who need care most. Meaningful career in the Mountain State!"
2024-10
Jennifer K.
Huntington • Private Practice
"Marshall University town has great community feel. Cost of living is very affordable!"
2024-09
West Virginia dental assistants earn an average of $40,210 annually ($19.33/hour). Entry-level positions start at $32,500-$36,500, while experienced DAs earn $42,500-$48,500. Morgantown pays highest at $39,000-$46,000 near WVU dental school. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Yes, West Virginia requires dental assistants to register with the Board of Dental Examiners. Registration requires completion of an approved program or DANB certification. EDDA credentials require additional training for expanded functions.
EHired's free online program can be completed in 4-8 weeks at your own pace. West Virginia registration requires proof of training plus radiography certification. The complete process typically takes 2-3 months from enrollment to employment.
Positive outlook with 6% projected growth through 2034. West Virginia's 1.8 million population, 1,100 dental practices, and WVU dental school create consistent demand. Significant oral health disparities and provider shortages create opportunities.
Yes! EHired's training is completely free. You pay for West Virginia registration fee, radiography certification exam, and any optional certifications when ready. Many WV employers—especially FQHCs—reimburse certification costs.
Morgantown leads with $39,000-$46,000 near WVU dental school and university influence. Charleston offers $38,000-$44,000 as state capital. West Virginia's very low cost of living provides strong purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
West Virginia offers: (1) WVU dental school creating academic employment, (2) Very low cost of living maximizing purchasing power, (3) Strong FQHC presence addressing health disparities, (4) Mountain lifestyle with outdoor recreation, (5) Meaningful community impact opportunities.
Yes! West Virginia has significant dental health disparities and provider shortages. Community health centers throughout the state may qualify for NHSC loan repayment programs. Rural positions often offer incentives to attract healthcare workers to underserved areas.
Join thousands of West Virginia residents who launched their dental assisting careers with our free training.
Enroll Free Today — No Credit Card RequiredWest Virginia's dental workforce serves approximately 1.8 million residents through an estimated 1,100 dental practices. Charleston, Morgantown, and Huntington contain the largest concentration of dental employment, with opportunities throughout the state's rural communities.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports West Virginia employed approximately 2,800 dental assistants in May 2024, earning a median annual wage of $40,210. West Virginia's very low cost of living provides competitive purchasing power despite wages below the national median.
West Virginia University School of Dentistry in Morgantown is the state's only dental school. The school addresses significant oral health disparities in Appalachia and creates clinical education employment opportunities for dental assistants.
West Virginia faces significant oral health challenges, with some of the nation's highest rates of tooth loss and dental disease. This creates substantial demand for dental services and meaningful impact opportunities for dental professionals.
Community health centers including Valley Health Systems, Cabin Creek Health, and others serve underserved populations throughout West Virginia. These organizations provide mission-driven employment with potential NHSC loan repayment eligibility.
West Virginia's aging population (20.5% over 65) and rural geography create unique dental practice challenges and opportunities. Dental assistants committed to serving Appalachian communities find meaningful work with lasting community impact.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023; BLS OEWS May 2024; ADA Health Policy Institute; DANB.