How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Las Cruces, NM in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists 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 Hygienist in Las Cruces, New Mexico earns $39.48 per hour, or $82,120 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,843 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,360, and the top 10% of earners make over $98,730.
That pay is 14% below the New Mexico figure of $95,940 and 16% below the national figure of $98,100. Las Cruces ranks 4th of 4 metro areas in New Mexico for Dental Hygienist pay. About 120 Dental Hygienists work in the Las Cruces area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Las Cruces at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.48 an hour, or $82,120 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 $76,360; the top 10% make over $98,730.
- Typical pay rose +9% from 2015 to 2025, against +13% for New Mexico as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Las Cruces?
Pay in Las Cruces runs from entry-level positions at around $36.71 an hour to more than $47.47 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the New Mexico and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Las Cruces
| Career stage | Las Cruces | New Mexico | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $76,360$36.71 an hour | $82,180$39.51 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $80,720$38.81 an hour | $86,300$41.49 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $82,120$39.48 an hour | $95,940$46.12 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $95,130$45.74 an hour | $99,960$48.06 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $98,730$47.47 an hour | $105,440$50.69 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Las Cruces area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Las Cruces
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists 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 Hygienist pay in Las Cruces was $75,290 a year. By 2025 it had reached $82,120, a change of +9%, compared with +13% for New Mexico over the same years.
How Las Cruces compares with other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe pays Dental Hygienists the most in New Mexico at $99,260 a year, $17,140 more than Las Cruces. The lowest-paying area in the state is Las Cruces at $82,120.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Las Cruces | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe | $99,260 | $47.72 | +21% | 120 |
| 2 | Albuquerque | $95,900 | $46.10 | +17% | 810 |
| 3 | Farmington | $90,420 | $43.47 | +10% | 120 |
| 4 | Las Cruces | $82,120 | $39.48 | this city | 120 |
Every metro area in New Mexico with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · New Mexico typical pay $95,940
Is Las Cruces a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Las Cruces earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $82,120 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Las Cruces area, about 1.5 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. Dental Hygienist 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 Hygienist make in Las Cruces, NM?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Las Cruces earns $82,120 a year, or $39.48 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $76,360 and the top 10% earn over $98,730.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Las Cruces?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Las Cruces is $39.48. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.71, and the top 10% earn over $47.47 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Las Cruces?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Las Cruces typically offer around $36.71 an hour, or $76,360 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Las Cruces higher than in the rest of New Mexico?
- Las Cruces pay is 14% below the New Mexico figure of $95,940 a year, ranking 4th of 4 metro areas in the state. Santa Fe pays the most in New Mexico at $99,260.