Dentist Salary in Roanoke, VA — 2026
Dentist salary data for Roanoke, VA — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Dentist salary in Roanoke, VA is $150,436 per year ($12,536/month, $72/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 88, which is 12% below the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Roanoke's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Dentist Take-Home Pay in Roanoke
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $150,436 |
| Federal Tax | -$24,839 |
| State Tax (5.2% eff.) | -$7,889 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$11,508 |
| Annual Take-Home | $106,200 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $8,850 |
Living Cost Comparison
Dentist Requirements
Key Skills
Roanoke Job Market Overview
Roanoke, Virginia has a population of 100,011 and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. The top industries are Healthcare, Transportation, Manufacturing. The local job growth rate is 1.2%, and the average commute time is 20minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Dentist Salary in Nearby Virginia Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Dentist in Roanoke
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Dentist in Roanoke, VA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $118,360 | $57/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $134,398 | $65/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $150,436 | $72/hr | Mid-career, 0-2 years |
| 75th | $187,088 | $90/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $226,600 | $109/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Roanoke's Healthcare sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 10.0% salary growth for Dentists over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Roanoke estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Dentist can expect a 12.1% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Roanoke. Negotiation, certifications (NBDE, State Licensure), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Roanoke vs National Average
The national median Dentist salary is $170,950 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Dentists, General). In Roanoke, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $150,436 is 12.0% below the national figure. This reflects Roanoke's cost of living index of 88 (lower than the national average of 100).
For Dentists, this means: rent typically consumes 10.7% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Roanoke costs about 1.7× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Roanoke.
Industry Context: Healthcare in Roanoke
Roanoke's economy is anchored by Healthcare, Transportation, Manufacturing, with 100,011 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Dentists can differ by sector, so compare Healthcare employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.2%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 4.0% growth outlook for Dentist roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Dentist salaries in Roanoke, VA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Dentists, General). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Roanoke index of 88 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), VA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 5.8%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Roanoke QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Roanoke figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Dentist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Healthcare vs others in Roanoke), specific skill set (Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Dentist salary in Roanoke, VA?
How much does a Dentist take home in Roanoke after taxes?
Is Roanoke a good city for Dentists?
What skills are needed for a Dentist in Roanoke?
How does Dentist salary in Roanoke compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Dentist salary in Roanoke, VA?
Salario estimates the median Dentist salary in Roanoke, VA at $150,436 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Dentist benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 88, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $118,360, and the senior estimate is $187,088 or more.
How much does a Dentist take home in Roanoke after taxes?
A Dentist earning the median salary of $150,436 in Roanoke, VA takes home approximately $106,200 per year ($8,850/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 29.4%.
Is Roanoke a good city for Dentists?
Roanoke, VA has a cost of living index of 88 (below national average). Dentists here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.2% and top industries include Healthcare, Transportation, Manufacturing.
What skills are needed for a Dentist in Roanoke?
Key skills for Dentists include Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Digital Imaging, Patient Management. Typical education requirement is Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Valuable certifications include NBDE, State Licensure, Board Certification.
How does Dentist salary in Roanoke compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Dentist is $170,950 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Roanoke, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $150,436, which is 12.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.