Dental Assistants pay range in Las Cruces
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,830 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Las Cruces earn between $37,250 and $45,190.
- $33K10th
- $37K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,100 | $3,342 | $19.28 |
| Median | $38,400 | $3,200 | $18.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,250 | $3,104 | $17.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,190 | $3,766 | $21.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Las Cruces vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Las Cruces earn 11% less than the New Mexico average ($45,130) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $40,100 | $38,400 | $32,730 | $46,830 | 200 |
| New Mexico | $45,130 | $44,400 | $37,060 | $55,950 | 2,150 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in Las Cruces
On the average salary of $40,100, a single filer in Las Cruces takes home about $33,643 a year, or $2,804 a month and $1,294 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Las Cruces a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Las Cruces area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $40,100 buys what about $44,451 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Las Cruces ($42,070). A typical home costs $288,339, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other New Mexico cities
Las Cruces ranks 4th of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job; Santa Fe pays the most ($49,920).
- Santa Fe$49,920
- Farmington$45,110
- Albuquerque$44,100
- Las Cruces$40,100
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in Las Cruces: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Las Cruces?
$19.28 an hour on average, and $18.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Las Cruces?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Las Cruces?
About $33,643 a year ($2,804 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,100.
Do dental assistants earn more in Las Cruces than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9091; area Las Cruces, NM (29740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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