Dental Laboratory Technicians Salary
The median pay for a dental laboratory technicians in New Mexico is $45,300/year ($21.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $48,678 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 36.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in New Mexico?
About dental laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Dental laboratory technicians pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level dental laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $46K | +2% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track dental laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental laboratory technicians in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental laboratory technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,166/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dental laboratory technician a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for dental laboratory technicians?
New Mexico pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do dental laboratory technicians make in New Mexico?
The median is $45,300 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,100, and experienced dental laboratory technicians can clear $64,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,101/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 36.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dental laboratory technicians salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental laboratory technicians salary is worth about $48,678 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dental laboratory technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.