Dental laboratory technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,660 | $17.62 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Mean (average) | $54,290 | $26.10 |
| 90th percentile | $76,940 | $36.99 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Dental laboratory technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 47 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,760 | $32,350 | $61,250 | 1,050 | 2.24 |
| Arizona | $47,930 | $36,530 | $77,840 | 950 | 1.33 |
| Arkansas | $49,960 | $36,410 | $66,470 | 840 | 2.93 |
| California | $47,410 | $36,660 | $74,200 | 4,480 | 1.11 |
| Colorado | $61,220 | $47,690 | $99,630 | 410 | 0.65 |
| Delaware | $38,500 | $38,410 | $61,200 | ||
| Florida | $59,790 | $36,750 | $78,010 | 2,330 | 1.06 |
| Georgia | $49,310 | $34,790 | $80,310 | 1,460 | 1.35 |
| Hawaii | $45,300 | $37,220 | $65,460 | 120 | 0.84 |
| Idaho | $47,380 | $36,280 | $101,230 | 370 | 1.94 |
| Illinois | $51,380 | $40,120 | $67,150 | 2,030 | 1.5 |
| Indiana | $49,920 | $35,360 | $67,090 | 680 | 0.95 |
| Iowa | $47,520 | $35,750 | $67,450 | 380 | 1.11 |
| Kansas | $56,790 | $42,800 | $84,700 | 570 | 1.78 |
| Kentucky | $46,770 | $21,120 | $68,660 | 420 | 0.96 |
| Louisiana | $38,490 | $23,850 | $71,320 | 330 | 0.78 |
| Maine | $64,020 | $43,680 | $111,940 | 120 | 0.88 |
| Maryland | $47,850 | $36,960 | $77,250 | 590 | 0.97 |
| Massachusetts | $72,800 | $47,450 | $82,820 | 440 | 0.55 |
| Michigan | $49,570 | $37,560 | $77,420 | 1,180 | 1.22 |
| Minnesota | $56,090 | $39,350 | $76,650 | 390 | 0.59 |
| Mississippi | $47,770 | $26,520 | $70,760 | 140 | 0.55 |
| Missouri | $46,870 | $38,650 | $78,430 | 740 | 1.14 |
| Montana | $47,560 | $39,420 | $67,650 | 110 | 0.96 |
| Nebraska | $58,590 | $40,410 | $69,990 | 190 | 0.83 |
| Nevada | $48,190 | $35,310 | $82,240 | 200 | 0.59 |
| New Hampshire | $60,610 | $40,960 | $87,360 | 120 | 0.78 |
| New Jersey | $47,270 | $37,340 | $99,240 | 780 | 0.82 |
| New Mexico | $45,300 | $36,100 | $64,970 | 130 | 0.65 |
| New York | $52,460 | $38,580 | $76,010 | 1,890 | 0.88 |
| North Carolina | $49,700 | $36,580 | $75,660 | 990 | 0.91 |
| North Dakota | $67,580 | $54,990 | $77,360 | 60 | 0.67 |
| Ohio | $48,480 | $36,420 | $76,780 | 1,160 | 0.94 |
| Oklahoma | $48,670 | $30,470 | $77,420 | 250 | 0.65 |
| Oregon | $48,800 | $35,300 | $71,860 | 570 | 1.31 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,280 | $31,680 | $84,570 | 930 | 0.69 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,490 | $21,840 | $48,710 | 100 | 0.5 |
| Rhode Island | $45,320 | $38,920 | $66,000 | ||
| South Carolina | $37,170 | $29,380 | $61,980 | 260 | 0.51 |
| South Dakota | $48,370 | $39,420 | $65,990 | 120 | 1.16 |
| Tennessee | $48,880 | $36,520 | $79,020 | 610 | 0.84 |
| Texas | $46,330 | $31,160 | $73,400 | 1,770 | 0.57 |
| Utah | $47,110 | $37,210 | $79,170 | 1,300 | 3.39 |
| Virginia | $51,900 | $36,100 | $89,490 | 1,050 | 1.16 |
| Washington | $56,400 | $39,970 | $78,340 | 670 | 0.86 |
| West Virginia | $47,740 | $36,080 | $69,210 | ||
| Wisconsin | $47,170 | $36,840 | $68,680 | 800 | 1.23 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for dental laboratory technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dental laboratory technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician CIP 51.0603
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
- Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
- Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
- Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
- Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatuses.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Bookkeeping software
- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software
- Computer imaging software
- Database management software
- Dental product design software
- Dental product manufacturing software
- Easy Solutions Easy Lab
- Email software
- Graphics software
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: Ceramist, Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech), Dental Ceramist, Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech), Dental Technician (Dental Tech), Denture Technician (Denture Tech), Metal Finisher, Orthodontic Laboratory Technician (Ortho Lab Tech), Porcelain Technician (Porcelain Tech), Waxer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dental laboratory technicians make?
The national median annual wage for dental laboratory technicians was $49,610 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,660 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $76,940. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dental laboratory technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dental laboratory technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dental laboratory technicians to change -5.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dental laboratory technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($72,800), North Dakota ($67,580), Maine ($64,020). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.