How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Las Cruces, NM in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Las Cruces, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across New Mexico.
BLS OES May 2025 · Las Cruces metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Las Cruces, New Mexico earns $18.46 per hour, or $38,400 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,200 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,730, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,830.
That pay is 14% below the New Mexico figure of $44,400 and 20% below the national figure of $48,070. Las Cruces ranks 4th of 4 metro areas in New Mexico for Dental Assistant pay. About 200 Dental Assistants work in the Las Cruces area.
Dental Assistant pay in Las Cruces at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.46 an hour, or $38,400 a year.
- That is 14% below the New Mexico figure, ranking 4th of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,730; the top 10% make over $46,830.
- Typical pay rose +30% from 2015 to 2025, against +38% for New Mexico as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Las Cruces?
Pay in Las Cruces runs from entry-level positions at around $15.73 an hour to more than $22.51 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the New Mexico and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Las Cruces
| Career stage | Las Cruces | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,730$15.73 an hour | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $37,250$17.91 an hour | $38,300$18.41 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $38,400$18.46 an hour | $44,400$21.35 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,190$21.73 an hour | $47,160$22.67 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,830$22.51 an hour | $55,950$26.90 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Las Cruces area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Las Cruces
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Las Cruces area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Las Cruces was $29,560 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,400, a change of +30%, compared with +38% for New Mexico over the same years.
How Las Cruces compares with other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe pays Dental Assistants the most in New Mexico at $47,160 a year, $8,760 more than Las Cruces. The lowest-paying area in the state is Las Cruces at $38,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Las Cruces | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $47,160 | $22.67 | +23% | 210 |
| 2 | Albuquerque | $44,810 | $21.54 | +17% | 1,000 |
| 3 | Farmington | $42,400 | $20.39 | +10% | 210 |
| 4 | Las Cruces | $38,400 | $18.46 | this city | 200 |
Every metro area in New Mexico with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · New Mexico typical pay $44,400
Is Las Cruces a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Las Cruces earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,400 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Las Cruces area, about 2.5 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. Dental Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Las Cruces, NM?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Las Cruces earns $38,400 a year, or $18.46 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,730 and the top 10% earn over $46,830.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Las Cruces?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Las Cruces is $18.46. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.73, and the top 10% earn over $22.51 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Las Cruces?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Las Cruces typically offer around $15.73 an hour, or $32,730 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Las Cruces higher than in the rest of New Mexico?
- Las Cruces pay is 14% below the New Mexico figure of $44,400 a year, ranking 4th of 4 metro areas in the state. Santa Fe pays the most in New Mexico at $47,160.