Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Virginia is $197,110/year ($94.76/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $321K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $207,944 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 14.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $197K actually covers in Virginia, month by month
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in Virginia
Virginia sits well above the national pay line for dentists, general, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,646/month, 14.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for dentists, general at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $197K. Top earners bring in $321K or more, a $216K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $219K | +11% | 650 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $177K | -10% | 720 |
| Lynchburg | $167K | -15% | 80 |
| Charlottesville | $162K | -18% | 130 |
| Harrisonburg | $159K | -19% | 70 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $159K | -19% | 40 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $128K | -35% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $197K, rent takes 14.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,416/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Virginia?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $197K here vs. $171K nationally.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Virginia pays $197K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $208K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Virginia?
The median is $197,110 a year, that works out to about $95 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $105,400, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $321,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $197K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,330/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 14.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general salary go in Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dentists, general salary is worth about $207,944 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.