PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dentist – DDS / DMD
Aspen Dental · Roswell, NM
$300k–$450k/ year
Top 25% pay
Dentist jobs in Las Cruces, NM
Dentists in the Las Cruces area earn a median of $82.77 per hour, about $172,160 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $80.66 and $108.11. That ranks 150th of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 107th of 279 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Las Cruces and what they pay.
- $82.77median pay per hour, Las Cruces
- $81–$108typical range per hour
- 90dentists employed in the metro area
- 90cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dentist pay in Las Cruces, NM
The metro median is in line with the New Mexico statewide median of $82.56 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 90 dentists, general employed in the Las Cruces metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.60).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $50.00 | $104,000 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $80.66 | $167,770 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Median | $82.77 | $172,160 | in line with U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $108.11 | $224,870 | 30% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 38% above U.S. median |
How Las Cruces ranks
- 150th of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 107th of 279 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, Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Las Cruces
- Overall prices in Las Cruces run 10% below the U.S. average (index 90.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $82.77 median hour buys what $91.75 buys at the national price level, 10% above 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.
Get the Las Cruces Dentist pay report
Named employers near Las Cruces, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Las Cruces paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,980
- Per year: $148,986
- Per month: $12,416
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Las Cruces metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dentist roles in New Mexico
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Las Cruces as they open.
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Dentist roles for you in New Mexico
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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Dental health shortage areas in Doña Ana County
HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Doña Ana County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 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.
Dentist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 39 mi | $78.99/hr | 681,723 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 192 mi | $75.05/hr | 560,326 |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 204 mi | $75.05/hr | 112,524 |
| Tucson, AZ | 239 mi | $83.50/hr | 554,013 |
| Marana, AZ | 254 mi | $101.57/hr | 62,380 |
| Odessa, TX | 262 mi | $75.66/hr | 119,748 |
License and tax basics in New Mexico
Active dental license in the state of the job. 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 Las Cruces
Las Cruces city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dentists make in Las Cruces, NM?
Dentists in the Las Cruces metro area have a median pay of $82.77 per hour, about $172,160 a year. The middle half earn between $80.66 and $108.11 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Las Cruces a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?
Las Cruces ranks 107th of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 150th of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a New Mexico license to work in Las Cruces as a dentist?
Active dental license in the state of the job. 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 Las Cruces in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Doña Ana County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dentists in Las Cruces?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Las Cruces and across New Mexico. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Las Cruces.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Las Cruces pay dentists? 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+ Dentist 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 Dentist pay reportLas Cruces, NM · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- KidsKare PCCarlsbad, NM · 2 wage offers$128.61/ hr$115–$168
- Salud Dental Group AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM · 3 wage offers$79.97/ hr$59–$144
- Familia Dental Carlsbad LLCCarlsbad, NM · 2 wage offers$54.55/ hr$51–$58
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$57Median$83.74High$123
14 employer-reported wage offers for Dentist in federal filings in New Mexico, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Dentist roles
- Dentist – DDS / DMDPermanent$300k–$450k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.