There are many different things that will affect salary levels of dental lab technicians.  First of all is the level of education.  Technicians who seek a bachelor’s degree will obviously enter the field at a higher pay scale.  Level of experience and adaptability are also very important factors.  Many technicians increase the amount of their yearly earnings based on the amount of experience or the amount of years on the job.

Technicians who are skilled at more functions (ex. Crowns and bridges, dentures etc) and are employed in smaller labs tend to make more.  Technicians who are primarily trained in a specific area generally work for larger labs and tend to make less.

Factors that are not specific to this job in particular, are location and advancement opportunities.  Many salaries are based on the individual region, city or state of residence.  Employers are competitive in wages and are attempting to pay wages that are in line with the cost of living in different areas.  The average median salary is dependent on individual states and range from $30,000 per year to $41,500 per year.  Here is a breakdown of some of the states.

New Jersey     $31, 500 per year

Texas      $40,788 per year

California     $41,500 per year

Florida      $30,000 per year

Virginia      $30,000 per year

Massachusetts     $34,700 per year

Advancement opportunities are also available to individuals who excel in quality of work and responsibility.  Salary increases go hand in hand with added responsibility and work.  Employees may branch out into supervisor or management positions.  It is also possible for technicians to ultimately own their own lab at some point.  This is something that greatly affects the average yearly earnings.

The job outlook for a dental lab technician is good.  Based on the growing trends in teeth whitening and cosmetic dental care, many technicians are busier than ever and the need for more is growing.  Many people are now replace the old silver filling for a prosthetic that is similar to the natural shade of the tooth.  Cosmetic dentistry is becoming the highest in demand considering the overall improvement in teeth and gums due to fluoride water.  It will not be necessary for the aging population to need dentures.  This reduces the work of technicians tremendously.

Overall, to ensure placement in a lab as a technician, it is important to review the proper education and to participate in ongoing courses on new technologies.  These factors will impact salary and job position greatly.