Occupation salary profile

Dental Laboratory Technicians

SOC 51-9081 BLS OEWS May 2025

Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances. Excludes “Dental Assistants” (31-9091).

National median · BLS
$49,610
▲ +2.69% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$54,290
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
34,410
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Dental Laboratory Technicians

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$36,660
25th$40,420
Median (50th)$49,610
75th$62,070
90th — top pay$76,940

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Dental Laboratory Technicians

BLS projects employment of dental laboratory technicians to decline 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 3,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
34,400 → 32,300
-2,000 jobs
Projected change
-5.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
3,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
1% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Dental Laboratory Technicians

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Reading Comprehension3.4
  • Critical Thinking3.3
  • Time Management3.3
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.1
  • Operations Monitoring3.1
  • Active Learning3.0
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Complex Problem Solving3.0
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Speaking3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Administration and Management3.8
  • Design3.8
  • English Language3.6
  • Medicine and Dentistry3.6
  • Production and Processing3.5
  • Education and Training3.5
  • Customer and Personal Service3.4
  • Mechanical3.2
Software and technology used
Intuit QuickBooksMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordBookkeeping softwareComputer aided design and drafting CADD softwareComputer imaging softwareDatabase management softwareDental product design softwareDental product manufacturing softwareEasy Solutions Easy LabEmail softwareGraphics softwareInventrix LabtracJenmar International DL-Plus

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What dental laboratory technicians do

  • 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.
  • Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
Also called
Dental CeramistDental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech)Dental Technician (Dental Tech)Denture Technician (Denture Tech)CeramistCrown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech)Metal FinisherOrthodontic Laboratory Technician (Ortho Lab Tech)Porcelain Technician (Porcelain Tech)Waxer
More job titles for this occupation (31)
Bridge TechnicianCAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician)CAM Tech (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technician)Certified Dental Technologist (CDT)Crown and Bridge Technician (Crown and Bridge Tech)Crown CeramistDental Appliance FixerDental Appliance MechanicDental Appliance RepairerDental Ceramist AssistantDental Equipment Installer and ServicerDental Instrument MakerDental Laboratory Worker (Dental Lab Worker)Dental MechanicDental Mold MakerDental TechnologistDenture Contour Wire SpecialistDenture FinisherDenture Laboratory Technician (Denture Lab Tech)Denture WaxerLab Processor (Laboratory Processor)Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech)Metal Room Dental Technician (Metal Room Dental Tech)Model and Dye PersonModel Technician (Model Tech)Orthodontic Band Maker (Ortho Band Maker)Orthodontic Technician (Ortho Tech)Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (Orthotic and Prosthetic Tech)Orthotic Prosthetic Technician (Orthotic Prosthetic Tech)Porcelain FinisherSterile Technician (Sterile Tech)

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.