Pay by state / New Mexico
NM · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in New Mexico
New Mexico's 1,420 dental hygienists earned a mean of $94,890 in May 2025, 4% below the US mean and number 24 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $185,010 (-3% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for New Mexico. Dental assistants earned $45,130.
- 1Dental hygienists $94,890
- 2General dentists $185,010
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $45,130
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | NM mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 780 | 0.893 | $185,010 | $191,350 | -3% |
| Dental hygienists | 1,420 | 1.632 | $94,890 | $98,990 | -4% |
| Dental assistants | 2,150 | 2.466 | $45,130 | $50,200 | -10% |
How New Mexico ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for New Mexico.
- General dentists: number 28 of 47 published states for mean pay ($185,010, median $155,260), with 0.893 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 24 of 50 published states for mean pay ($94,890, median $95,940), with 1.632 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 40 of 50 published states for mean pay ($45,130, median $44,400), with 2.466 per 1,000 jobs.
New Mexico and the Mountain division
Among the 8 Mountain jurisdictions with published figures, New Mexico ranks 6 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $95,940 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region.
| Mountain | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $101,450 | $181,040 | $50,280 |
| Colorado | $110,030 | $160,810 | $50,230 |
| Idaho | $95,500 | $139,320 | $47,250 |
| Montana | $96,730 | $168,460 | $47,180 |
| Nevada | $114,360 | $178,460 | $45,880 |
| New Mexico | $94,890 | $185,010 | $45,130 |
| Utah | $87,770 | $144,880 | $40,550 |
| Wyoming | $82,320 | $146,240 | $44,100 |
Staffing in New Mexico
There are 1.8 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in New Mexico, close to the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $140,020 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in New Mexico.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for New Mexico. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.