Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Dental laboratory technicians work in a specialized trade that combines hands-on craftsmanship with technical precision. Nationally, there are about 35,000 people employed in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $48,310. The work relies heavily on skills such as fine motor ability, creativity and innovation, attention to detail, and mechanical and scientific understanding. Project management, critical and analytical thinking, and adaptability also play a role, along with interpersonal and leadership skills. While projected national employment growth is -4.7%, there are still an estimated 4,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing turnover and replacement needs. Opportunities vary by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher median salaries and CareerGPS opportunity scores than others. For individuals who enjoy detailed, hands-on work and have strong technical and analytical skills, this career can offer a focused, skill-based path with defined educational expectations and identifiable geographic hotspots for opportunity.
The national median annual salary for dental laboratory technicians is $48,310. Pay levels differ notably across states and metro areas. Among the top states by CareerGPS opportunity score, Massachusetts has the highest median salary at $72,800, followed by Colorado at $61,220, Washington at $56,400, New York at $52,460, and California at $47,410. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands out with a median salary of $75,480. Other high-paying metros among the top opportunity areas include Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $61,250, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $60,940, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $60,510. These figures suggest that geographic choice can significantly influence earning potential. Individuals willing to target specific states or metros with higher median wages may have stronger income prospects within this occupation.
Dental laboratory technicians currently account for about 35,000 jobs nationwide. Projected employment growth for this occupation is -4.7%, indicating an expected decline in total employment over the projection period. Despite this negative growth rate, there are still an estimated 4,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing labor-market churn, such as workers leaving the occupation or changing jobs. The combination of declining overall employment and continued annual openings suggests that prospective technicians will likely encounter a market focused more on replacement hiring than expansion. Individuals considering this field should be aware that job trends may vary by region, as some states and metro areas show stronger opportunity scores than others. Monitoring local conditions and targeting areas with higher opportunity scores can be a practical strategy for navigating an occupation with shrinking overall employment but continuing job turnover.
Location plays a clear role in opportunity and pay for dental laboratory technicians. Among states, California ranks with an opportunity score of 67.38, supported by 4,480 employed technicians and a median salary of $47,410. Massachusetts combines a high opportunity score of 65.87 with a notably higher median salary of $72,800, though employment is smaller at 440. New York (opportunity score 65.78) offers a median salary of $52,460 and employment of 1,890. Colorado and Washington also appear among the top states, with median salaries of $61,220 and $56,400 and opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ both have very high opportunity scores above 77. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also show strong scores and relatively high median salaries, offering multiple geographic options for targeting stronger local conditions.
The typical education requirement for dental laboratory technicians is a high school diploma or equivalent. Beyond this baseline, success in the field is closely tied to a specific mix of skills. Fine motor ability and being highly detail oriented are central, reflecting the precise nature of the work. Creativity and innovation also matter, indicating room for design-oriented problem solving. Mechanical and science skills support understanding of materials and processes, while critical and analytical thinking help in evaluating technical information and making sound decisions. Project management and leadership skills point to the need to coordinate tasks, timelines, or small teams in some roles. Adaptability and interpersonal skills are also important, supporting collaboration and adjustment to changes in work demands or methods. For students and career changers, this combination suggests a pathway where a high school education, paired with strong technical, analytical, and hands-on abilities, can be a solid foundation for entering the occupation.
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