Dental Salaries in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dentist: a median of $141,580 a year ($68.07 an hour). That is $13,680 below the New Mexico dentist median of $155,260 and $29,370 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $95,900 a year ($46.10 an hour). That is $40 below the New Mexico dental hygienist median of $95,940 and $2,200 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $46,260 a year ($22.24 an hour). That is $960 above the New Mexico dental lab technician median of $45,300 and $3,350 below the national median of $49,610.

Dental Assistant: a median of $44,810 a year ($21.54 an hour). That is $410 above the New Mexico dental assistant median of $44,400 and $3,260 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Albuquerque dentists earn $115,740 to $226,330. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $107,650 (against $101,180 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $305,790 (against $306,320 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $198,140.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Albuquerque dental hygienists earn $86,300 to $99,950. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $83,670 (against $82,180 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $100,770 (against $105,440 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $17,100.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Albuquerque dental lab technicians earn $39,420 to $50,370. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,420 (against $36,100 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $64,440 (against $64,970 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,020.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Albuquerque dental assistants earn $38,830 to $46,830. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,300 (against $37,060 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $54,500 (against $55,950 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $17,200.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Albuquerque metro's 2024 price level at 95.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 4.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 89.2) run 10.8% below. New Mexico as a whole sits at 92.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $141,580 here buys about what $148,180 buys at national average prices — $22,770 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $95,900 here buys about what $100,370 buys at national average prices — $2,270 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $46,260 here buys about what $48,420 buys at national average prices — $1,190 below the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $44,810 here buys about what $46,900 buys at national average prices — $1,170 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 460 jobs in the metro, or 1.124 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 41% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.41).

Dental Hygienists: about 810 jobs in the metro, or 1.993 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 39% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.39).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 0.212 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 4% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.96).

Dental Assistants: about 1,000 jobs in the metro, or 2.47 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Santa Fe (39 mi) pays $154,960, Las Cruces (193 mi) pays $207,000 and Pueblo, Colorado (237 mi) pays $172,680. Albuquerque's $141,580 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Santa Fe (39 mi) pays $99,260, Las Cruces (193 mi) pays $82,120 and Pueblo, Colorado (237 mi) pays $98,700. Albuquerque's $95,900 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Santa Fe (39 mi) pays $47,160, Las Cruces (193 mi) pays $38,400 and Pueblo, Colorado (237 mi) pays $45,710. Albuquerque's $44,810 is below 2 of the 3.