Dental Laboratory Technician Salary
Dental Laboratory Technicians earn a median $49,610 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$49,610
$23.85 per hour
Range
$36,660 – $76,940
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
34,410
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for dental laboratory technicians in the U.S. rose from $48,310 (May 2024) to $49,610 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What dental laboratory technicians do
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.9% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 3,600
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of dental laboratory technicians is projected to shrink 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Dental Laboratory Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$42,042
per year · effective tax rate 15.3%
$3,503Monthly
$1,752Twice a month
$1,617Every 2 weeks
$20.21Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,773
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,076
- Medicare (1.45%)$719
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,042
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,660 | $17.63 | $31,636 |
| 25th percentile | $40,420 | $19.43 | $34,657 |
| Median (50th) | $49,610 | $23.85 | $42,042 |
| 75th percentile | $62,070 | $29.84 | $52,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,940 | $36.99 | $62,957 |
Best cities for dental laboratory technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $46,460 | $38,059 | $33,513 | 2,710 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $46,460
Dental Laboratory Technician salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $72,800 | +22.8% | $56,625 | $47,450 – $82,820 | 440 |
| North Dakota | $67,580 | +19.5% | $56,314 | $54,990 – $77,360 | 60 |
| Maine | $64,020 | +14.3% | $50,480 | $43,680 – $111,940 | 120 |
| Colorado | $61,220 | −3.1% | $49,385 | $47,690 – $99,630 | 410 |
| New Hampshire | $60,610 | +8.9% | $50,880 | $40,960 – $87,360 | 120 |
| Florida | $59,790 | +5.1% | $50,221 | $36,750 – $78,010 | 2,330 |
| Nebraska | $58,590 | +19.2% | $47,471 | $40,410 – $69,990 | 190 |
| Kansas | $56,790 | +14.4% | $45,442 | $42,800 – $84,700 | 570 |
| Washington | $56,400 | +0.1% | $47,497 | $39,970 – $78,340 | 670 |
| Minnesota | $56,090 | −1.9% | $44,958 | $39,350 – $76,650 | 390 |
| New York | $52,460 | −3.1% | $42,096 | $38,580 – $76,010 | 1,890 |
| Virginia | $51,900 | +7.0% | $41,712 | $36,100 – $89,490 | 1,050 |
| Illinois | $51,380 | +1.7% | $41,065 | $40,120 – $67,150 | 2,030 |
| Arkansas | $49,960 | +8.9% | $40,587 | $36,410 – $66,470 | 840 |
| Indiana | $49,920 | +5.4% | $40,848 | $35,360 – $67,090 | 680 |
| North Carolina | $49,700 | +0.5% | $40,640 | $36,580 – $75,660 | 990 |
| Michigan | $49,570 | +1.7% | $40,154 | $37,560 – $77,420 | 1,180 |
| Georgia | $49,310 | +1.8% | $39,864 | $34,790 – $80,310 | 1,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,280 | −0.9% | $40,264 | $31,680 – $84,570 | 930 |
| Tennessee | $48,880 | +11.2% | $41,455 | $36,520 – $79,020 | 610 |
| Oregon | $48,800 | +1.5% | $37,950 | $35,300 – $71,860 | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $48,670 | +0.4% | $39,642 | $30,470 – $77,420 | 250 |
| Ohio | $48,480 | +0.5% | $40,583 | $36,420 – $76,780 | 1,160 |
| South Dakota | $48,370 | +8.4% | $41,045 | $39,420 – $65,990 | 120 |
| Nevada | $48,190 | −4.8% | $40,901 | $35,310 – $82,240 | 200 |
| Arizona | $47,930 | +0.8% | $39,702 | $36,530 – $77,840 | 950 |
| Maryland | $47,850 | −4.0% | $38,718 | $36,960 – $77,250 | 590 |
| Mississippi | $47,770 | +27.8% | $39,384 | $26,520 – $70,760 | 140 |
| West Virginia | $47,740 | +29.1% | $39,119 | $36,080 – $69,210 | — |
| Montana | $47,560 | −5.9% | $38,916 | $39,420 – $67,650 | 110 |
| Iowa | $47,520 | −2.1% | $39,208 | $35,750 – $67,450 | 380 |
| California | $47,410 | −2.2% | $38,764 | $36,660 – $74,200 | 4,480 |
| Idaho | $47,380 | −0.8% | $38,847 | $36,280 – $101,230 | 370 |
| New Jersey | $47,270 | −3.1% | $39,098 | $37,340 – $99,240 | 780 |
| Wisconsin | $47,170 | −0.2% | $38,787 | $36,840 – $68,680 | 800 |
| Utah | $47,110 | +2.9% | $38,879 | $37,210 – $79,170 | 1,300 |
| Missouri | $46,870 | −0.1% | $38,574 | $38,650 – $78,430 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $46,770 | +12.0% | $38,240 | $21,120 – $68,660 | 420 |
| Texas | $46,330 | +10.6% | $39,406 | $31,160 – $73,400 | 1,770 |
| Alabama | $45,760 | +11.7% | $36,925 | $32,350 – $61,250 | 1,050 |
| Rhode Island | $45,320 | −21.2% | $37,512 | $38,920 – $66,000 | — |
| Hawaii | $45,300 | +8.9% | $36,633 | $37,220 – $65,460 | 120 |
| New Mexico | $45,300 | −6.8% | $37,598 | $36,100 – $64,970 | 130 |
| Delaware | $38,500 | +3.2% | $31,655 | $38,410 – $61,200 | — |
| Louisiana | $38,490 | +4.8% | $32,338 | $23,850 – $71,320 | 330 |
| South Carolina | $37,170 | −6.9% | $30,973 | $29,380 – $61,980 | 260 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Appliance Technician | $48,030 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.5% |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $39,460 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.2% |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.1% |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.6% |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,540 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.7% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | High school diploma or equivalent | -9.4% |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders | $48,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.6% |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $51,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.2% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental laboratory technician make?
The national median salary for dental laboratory technicians is $49,610 a year ($23.85 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,660 and the top 10% earn over $76,940. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays dental laboratory technicians the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median pay at $72,800. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many dental laboratory technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 34,410 people work as dental laboratory technicians nationwide.