Dental Laboratory Technicians in California
Considering working as a Dental Laboratory Technicians in California? Below are the key facts. Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances. Excludes “Dental Assistants” (31-9091).
What do Dental Laboratory Technicians Make in California?
For dental laboratory technicians working in California, the median annual wage is $48,480 per year (or roughly $23.31/hour).Annual wages span from $37,850 at the 10th percentile to $82,770 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| 25th percentile | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Median (50th) | $48,480 | $23.31 |
| 75th percentile | $64,770 | $31.14 |
| 90th percentile | $82,770 | $39.79 |
The job concentration index in California relative to the national average — is 0.99.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, dental laboratory technicians earn a median of $25,417 per year ($12.22/hour), higher than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 112,055 dental laboratory technicians nationwide. In California alone, approximately 3,950 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 440 dental laboratory technicians.
Top California Metros for Dental Laboratory Technicians
The metro areas below employ the most dental laboratory technicians in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,070 | $48,300 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 310 | $56,330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 290 | $47,420 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 270 | $49,100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 260 | $46,250 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 60 | $44,950 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 60 | $47,460 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 50 | $46,720 |
| Fresno, CA | 40 | $43,720 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 40 | $63,660 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 30 | $45,470 |
| Modesto, CA | 30 | $46,980 |
Top States for Dental Laboratory Technicians Employment
The table below shows the states where the most dental laboratory technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 3,950 |
| Florida | 2,170 |
| New York | 2,130 |
| Texas | 1,690 |
| Illinois | 1,440 |
| Georgia | 1,380 |
| Michigan | 1,290 |
| Utah | 1,170 |
| Ohio | 1,110 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,100 |
| Alabama | 1,090 |
| Virginia | 1,020 |
| Missouri | 1,000 |
| New Jersey | 940 |
| Arizona | 930 |
| North Carolina | 860 |
| Washington | 830 |
| Wisconsin | 810 |
| Tennessee | 770 |
| Indiana | 730 |
Highest-Paying States for Dental Laboratory Technicians
These states pay the most for dental laboratory technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $63,170 |
| Massachusetts | $59,270 |
| Alaska | $59,150 |
| Rhode Island | $57,520 |
| Minnesota | $57,180 |
| Florida | $56,910 |
| North Dakota | $56,540 |
| Washington | $56,360 |
| Vermont | $56,160 |
| Maine | $56,020 |
Skills
Key dental laboratory technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for dental laboratory technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, dental laboratory technicians typically:
- 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.
- Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
- Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
- Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Processing Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Dental Support Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to dental laboratory technicians include:
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Dentists, General
- Orthodontists
- Prosthodontists
- Dental Hygienists
- Surgical Technologists
Also Known As
Bridge Technician, CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), CAM Tech (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technician), Ceramist, Certified Dental Technologist (CDT), Crown Ceramist, Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech), Crown and Bridge Technician (Crown and Bridge Tech), Dental Appliance Fixer, Dental Appliance Mechanic, Dental Appliance Repairer, Dental Ceramist, Dental Ceramist Assistant, Dental Equipment Installer and Servicer, Dental Instrument Maker.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 51-9081.00
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