VA · Chesapeake · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Chesapeake, VA

Pay for dental assistants in the Chesapeake area centers on $22.42 per hour, or about $46,620 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.50 and the upper quarter over $23.04. That ranks 161st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 187th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 8 open roles with published pay are listed for Chesapeake and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chesapeake.

Open Dental Assistant roles near Chesapeake

Roles in other cities of the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area.

PermanentPosted 4 days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Suffolk, VA

$25.00–$25.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-012758
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted 4 days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Suffolk, VA

$22.00–$24.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-012689
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 29 days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Virginia Beach, VA

$22.00–$28.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-006400
Top 25% pay
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Hampton, VA

$22.00–$25.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-011422
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Norfolk, VA

$19.00–$25.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-010973
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Aspen Dental · Virginia Beach, VA

$20.00–$23.00/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-011221
View role

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Named employers near Chesapeake, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring dental assistants near Chesapeake

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Aspen Dental7$23.50
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA1$25.48

Dental Assistant pay in Chesapeake, VA

The metro median is 1% below the Virginia statewide median of $22.55 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 2,070 dental assistants employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.13).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.28$35,94024% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.50$38,48019% below U.S. median
Median$22.42$46,6201% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$23.04$47,9201% above U.S. median
Top 10%$27.76$57,74022% above U.S. median

How Chesapeake ranks

  • 161st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 187th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 8 Virginia metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Chesapeake

  • Overall prices in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $22.42 median hour buys what $22.89 buys at the national price level, 1% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Chesapeake paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$807
  • Per year: $40,356
  • Per month: $3,363

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Dental health shortage areas in Chesapeake city

HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Chesapeake city (2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 6 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Dental Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Portsmouth, VA13 mi$22.42/hr96,482
Virginia Beach, VA17 mi$22.42/hr454,808
Richmond, VA87 mi$22.47/hr233,655
Greenville, NC96 mi$22.49/hr95,138
Rocky Mount, NC97 mi$19.36/hr54,541
Wake Forest, NC133 mi$24.16/hr56,764

Dental Assistant jobs in Virginia · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Virginia

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Virginia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Virginia state guide

Other healthcare roles in Chesapeake

Chesapeake city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Chesapeake, VA?

Dental Assistants in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area have a median pay of $22.42 per hour, about $46,620 a year. The middle half earn between $18.50 and $23.04 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Chesapeake a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk ranks 187th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 161st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring dental assistants in Chesapeake?

We list 8 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chesapeake.

Do I need a Virginia license to work in Chesapeake as a dental assistant?

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Virginia requires for your role with the Virginia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Chesapeake in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Chesapeake city. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

Does Valorem Health place dental assistants in Chesapeake?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chesapeake and across Virginia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chesapeake.

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What do employers near Chesapeake pay dental assistants? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other employers

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Dental Assistant near Chesapeake, VA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dental Assistant pay reportChesapeake, VA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Military Treatment Facilities under DHAVirginia Beach, VA · 2 postings$25.48/ hr$22–$29
  • PDS HealthLeesburg, VA · 3 postings$24.00/ hr$20–$28
  • Aspen DentalSuffolk, VA · 16 postings$22.00/ hr$17–$29

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$19Median$23.00High$28

23 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Virginia, 14 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 23 Dental Assistant roles

  1. DENTAL ASSISTANTPermanent
    $18.70–$26.18/ hour
    Carilion Clinic · Roanoke, VA · posted today
  2. Dental Assistant - SurgicalPermanent
    $26.00–$28.00/ hour
    ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers · Vienna, VA · posted 4 days ago

+ 21 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
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