A general dentist in Virginia earns an average of $197,820 per year, with a median of $197,110. The close alignment between the mean and median tells you the market is relatively stable, though the range from $105,400 at the 10th percentile to $321,250 at the 90th percentile means experience and specialization still drive large differences in what candidates will expect.
Dentist salary in Virginia (2026)
The average annual salary for a dentist in Virginia is $197,820. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $197,110 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Virginia employs 4,140 dentists across the state, and the $710 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in Virginia typically earn around $105,400, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $321,250 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Virginia, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $197,110 |
Average Annual Salary | $197,820 |
vs. National Average | 3.4% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,140 employed dentists across Virginia.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Virginia
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $105,400 |
25th Percentile | $134,870 |
75th Percentile | $259,530 |
90th Percentile | $321,250 |
Employers setting an offer for a dentist in Virginia should expect a wide range: the middle half of the market runs from $134,870 to $259,530, which means seniority and specialization drive substantial differences in compensation. Candidates at the top of the market regularly reach $321,250, so offers for experienced hires should be positioned well above the median to remain credible.
Dentist salary by city in Virginia
City | Average Annual Salary |
Arlington | $215,610 |
Richmond | $212,020 |
Charlottesville | $187,020 |
Virginia Beach | $184,210 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a dentist hire in Virginia. Arlington leads the state at $215,610 on average, while Virginia Beach sits at $184,210, a difference of more than $31,000 that should factor directly into your offer strategy when hiring across multiple markets. Employers in the Northern Virginia corridor should expect to set offers noticeably above the statewide average to attract candidates.
How Virginia compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Virginia | $197,820 | $197,110 |
Georgia | $214,040 | $206,760 |
Tennessee | $210,700 | $215,290 |
North Carolina | $207,550 | $207,000 |
Maryland | $185,740 | $168,500 |
Pennsylvania | $172,710 | $163,390 |
Virginia sits in the middle of the regional market, which means employers here face meaningful competition from higher-paying neighboring states when recruiting experienced dentists. Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina all post higher averages, ranging from $207,550 to $214,040, so candidates with options across state lines may expect offers that reflect those benchmarks. Maryland and Pennsylvania pay less on average, at $185,740 and $172,710 respectively, giving Virginia employers a relative advantage when recruiting from those markets.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Virginia
How much does a general dentist make in Virginia?
What is the average dentist salary in Virginia?
The average dentist salary in Virginia is $197,820 annually, which sits 3.4% above the national mean of $191,350. When budgeting, use the median of $197,110 as your anchor and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience level and the specific demands of the role.
How does Virginia compare to other states for dentist salary?
Virginia pays dentists more than Maryland ($185,740) and Pennsylvania ($172,710) on average, but less than Georgia ($214,040), Tennessee ($210,700), and North Carolina ($207,550). If you are recruiting candidates who are also considering offers in Georgia or Tennessee, you may need to close a gap of roughly $13,000 to $16,000 in average compensation to remain competitive.
What do the top-earning dentists make in Virginia?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Virginia earn $321,250 per year, and those at the 75th percentile reach $259,530. If you are competing for senior or highly specialized talent, plan your offer ceiling well above the statewide median and benchmark against the upper percentiles rather than the average.
Dentist salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1021 (Dentists, General).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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