Dental Salaries in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Dentist: a median of $154,960 a year ($74.50 an hour). That is $300 below the New Mexico dentist median of $155,260 and $15,990 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 3rd of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $99,260 a year ($47.72 an hour). That is $3,320 above the New Mexico dental hygienist median of $95,940 and $1,160 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,160 a year ($22.67 an hour). That is $2,760 above the New Mexico dental assistant median of $44,400 and $910 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 4 New Mexico metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Santa Fe dentists earn $120,150 to $228,080. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $101,400 (against $101,180 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $323,850 (against $306,320 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $222,450.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Santa Fe dental hygienists earn $96,680 to $107,130. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $93,210 (against $82,180 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $120,880 (against $105,440 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $27,670.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Santa Fe dental assistants earn $44,400 to $50,660. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,860 (against $37,060 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $65,670 (against $55,950 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $27,810.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Santa Fe metro's 2024 price level at 98.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 1.2% below the national average, and housing costs (index 108.0) run 8.0% above. New Mexico as a whole sits at 92.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $154,960 here buys about what $156,890 buys at national average prices — $14,060 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $99,260 here buys about what $100,500 buys at national average prices — $2,400 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $47,160 here buys about what $47,750 buys at national average prices — $320 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 60 jobs in the metro, or 1.004 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 25% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.25).

Dental Hygienists: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 2.008 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 40% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.40).

Dental Assistants: about 210 jobs in the metro, or 3.448 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 38% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.38).

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: Albuquerque (39 mi) pays $141,580, Pueblo, Colorado (200 mi) pays $172,680 and Las Cruces (224 mi) pays $207,000. Santa Fe's $154,960 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Albuquerque (39 mi) pays $95,900, Pueblo, Colorado (200 mi) pays $98,700 and Las Cruces (224 mi) pays $82,120. Santa Fe's $99,260 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Albuquerque (39 mi) pays $44,810, Pueblo, Colorado (200 mi) pays $45,710 and Las Cruces (224 mi) pays $38,400. Santa Fe's $47,160 is above all 3.