Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in New Mexico is $155,260/year ($74.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $306K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $166,839 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 11.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $155K actually covers in New Mexico, month by month
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Dentists, general pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $155K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 12.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $155K. Top earners bring in $306K or more, a $205K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $207K | +33% | 80 |
| Farmington | $196K | +26% | 50 |
| Santa Fe | $155K | -0% | 60 |
| Albuquerque | $142K | -9% | 460 |
Compare to other states
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $155K, rent takes 12.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,300/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $155K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
New Mexico pays $155K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $167K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in New Mexico?
The median is $155,260 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $101,180, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $306,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $155K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,188/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 12.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general 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 dentists, general salary is worth about $166,839 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals 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.