Dental Assistants pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,500 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Albuquerque earn between $38,830 and $46,830.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $45KMedian
- $47K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,100 | $3,675 | $21.20 |
| Median | $44,810 | $3,734 | $21.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,830 | $3,236 | $18.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,830 | $3,902 | $22.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Albuquerque earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($45,130) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $44,100 | $44,810 | $37,300 | $54,500 | 1,000 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $44,100, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $36,685 a year, or $3,057 a month and $1,411 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Albuquerque a good place for dental assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $44,100 buys what about $46,156 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 8.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 3rd 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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Albuquerque?
$21.20 an hour on average, and $21.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $36,685 a year ($3,057 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,100.
Do dental assistants earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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