PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Albuquerque, NM
$16.50–$23.25/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Albuquerque, NM
Pay for dental assistants in the Albuquerque area centers on $19.24 per hour, or about $40,010 a year. The lower quarter earns under $17.65 and the upper quarter over $21.89. That ranks 295th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 291st of 339 once local prices are factored in. 4 open roles with published pay are listed for Albuquerque. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Albuquerque.
- $19.24median pay per hour, Albuquerque
- $18–$22typical range per hour
- 930dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 4open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Albuquerque
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Dental Assistant - Surgical
ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers · Albuquerque, NM
$24.00–$28.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Albuquerque, NM
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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- Email only, no calls
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant - Expanded Functions
Aspen Dental · Albuquerque, NM
$25.00–$30.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Albuquerque, NM
$20.00–$25.00/ hour
Get the Albuquerque Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Albuquerque, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Albuquerque
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Dental | 2 | $25 |
| PDS Health | 1 | $19.88 |
| ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers | 1 | $26 |
Dental Assistant pay in Albuquerque, NM
The metro median is 3% above the New Mexico statewide median of $18.68 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 930 dental assistants employed in the Albuquerque metro area, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.95).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.69 | $34,720 | 27% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.65 | $36,710 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $19.24 | $40,010 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.89 | $45,530 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $26.10 | $54,290 | 15% above U.S. median |
How Albuquerque ranks
- 295th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 291st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 3 New Mexico metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Albuquerque
- Overall prices in Albuquerque run 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $19.24 median hour buys what $20.14 buys at the national price level, 11% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Albuquerque paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$693
- Per year: $34,632
- Per month: $2,886
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Albuquerque metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Bernalillo County
HRSA lists 11 active dental health shortage designations that include Bernalillo County (1 population-group, 10 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 26 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dental Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Rancho, NM | 13 mi | $19.24/hr | 112,524 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 54 mi | $21.76/hr | 90,551 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 192 mi | $17.74/hr | 116,998 |
| Amarillo, TX | 272 mi | $17.72/hr | 203,729 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 281 mi | $22.35/hr | 77,539 |
| Lubbock, TX | 292 mi | $17.51/hr | 272,086 |
Dental Assistant jobs in New Mexico · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in New Mexico
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
New Mexico taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Albuquerque
Albuquerque city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Albuquerque, NM?
Dental Assistants in the Albuquerque metro area have a median pay of $19.24 per hour, about $40,010 a year. The middle half earn between $17.65 and $21.89 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Albuquerque a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Albuquerque ranks 291st of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 295th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Albuquerque?
We list 4 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in Albuquerque. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Albuquerque.
Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Albuquerque as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Mexico requires for your role with the New Mexico licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Albuquerque in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 11 active dental health shortage designations that include Bernalillo County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental assistants in Albuquerque?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Albuquerque and across New Mexico. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Albuquerque.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Albuquerque pay dental assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
20+ Dental Assistant roles in New Mexico, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your New Mexico list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalAlbuquerque, NM · 3 postings$22.50/ hr$18–$30
- PDS HealthAlbuquerque, NM · 2 postings$21.44/ hr$16–$27
- Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
- Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your New Mexico list
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$22.75High$28
6 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in New Mexico, 4 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 6 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$16.50–$23.25/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$19.25–$26.75/ hour
+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.