Dental Laboratory Technicians
Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.
Also called: Bridge Technician, CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), CAM Tech (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technician), Ceramist, Certified Dental Technologist (CDT), Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech)
Median pay
$49,610
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,660 – $76,940
People employed
34,410
Holland code
RIC
Realistic · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 4.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 6.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 7.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Exposure to disease or infection
Dental Laboratory Technicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (46 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What dental laboratory technicians do
- 01Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
- 02Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
- 03Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
- 04Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
- 05Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
- 06Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
Knowledge
- Design
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Production and Processing
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from dental laboratory technicians
- Furniture Finishers77% · −10%
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters77% · +3%
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders75% · −3%
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators74% · −6%
- Endoscopy Technicians74% · group pay
Change into dental laboratory technicians
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Endoscopy Technicians70% · $48,430
- Prepress Technicians and Workers68% · $48,690
- Sewers, Hand66% · $36,480
- Surgical Technologists58% · $64,650
Majors that lead here
- Dental Laboratory Technology/Technician
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.