Dental Salaries in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Dentist: a median of $207,000 a year ($99.52 an hour). That is $51,740 above the New Mexico dentist median of $155,260 and $36,050 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $82,120 a year ($39.48 an hour). That is $13,820 below the New Mexico dental hygienist median of $95,940 and $15,980 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 4th of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $38,400 a year ($18.46 an hour). That is $6,000 below the New Mexico dental assistant median of $44,400 and $9,670 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 4th of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Las Cruces dentists earn $130,900 to $243,010. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $107,870 (against $101,180 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $315,440 (against $306,320 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $207,570.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Las Cruces dental hygienists earn $80,720 to $95,130. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $76,360 (against $82,180 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $98,730 (against $105,440 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,370.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Las Cruces dental assistants earn $37,250 to $45,190. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $32,730 (against $37,060 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $46,830 (against $55,950 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,100.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Las Cruces metro's 2024 price level at 90.2 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 9.8% below the national average, and housing costs (index 63.0) run 37.0% below. New Mexico as a whole sits at 92.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $207,000 here buys about what $229,460 buys at national average prices — $58,510 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $82,120 here buys about what $91,030 buys at national average prices — $7,070 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $38,400 here buys about what $42,570 buys at national average prices — $5,500 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 80 jobs in the metro, or 0.951 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 19% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.19).

Dental Hygienists: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 1.479 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 3% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.03).

Dental Assistants: about 200 jobs in the metro, or 2.523 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.01).

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: El Paso, Texas (96 mi) pays $150,940, Albuquerque (193 mi) pays $141,580 and Santa Fe (224 mi) pays $154,960. Las Cruces's $207,000 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: El Paso, Texas (96 mi) pays $84,660, Albuquerque (193 mi) pays $95,900 and Santa Fe (224 mi) pays $99,260. Las Cruces's $82,120 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: El Paso, Texas (96 mi) pays $39,090, Albuquerque (193 mi) pays $44,810 and Santa Fe (224 mi) pays $47,160. Las Cruces's $38,400 is below all 3.