Jobs Similar to Dental Laboratory Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to dental laboratory technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Medical Appliance Technicians, Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians and Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators.
Dental Laboratory Technicians: $49,610 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Dental Laboratory Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Appliance TechniciansSame group | 76% | $48,030−3% | High school |
| 2 | Ophthalmic Laboratory TechniciansSame group | 75% | $39,460−20% | High school |
| 3 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 74% | $46,880−6% | High school |
| 4 | Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and FinishersSame group | 74% | $46,170Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 5 | Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 73% | $51,330+3% | High school |
| 6 | Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 72% | $48,220−3% | High school |
| 7 | Etchers and EngraversSame group | 72% | $43,310−13% | High school |
| 8 | Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 72% | $43,960−11% | High school |
| 9 | Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 71% | $47,920−3% | High school |
| 10 | Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticSame group | 71% | $46,170−7% | High school |
| 11 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | 71% | $48,690−2% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Tire BuildersSame group | 71% | $57,390+16% | High school |
| 13 | Furniture Finishers | 71% | $44,540−10% | High school |
| 14 | Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 70% | $78,350Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 15 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 70% | $74,510+50% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Foundry Mold and Coremakers | 70% | $48,110−3% | High school |
| 17 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersSame group | 70% | $48,570−2% | High school |
| 18 | Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | 70% | $46,350−7% | High school |
| 19 | Endoscopy Technicians | 70% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 20 | Semiconductor Processing TechniciansSame group | 70% | $51,430+4% | High school |
- 1Medical Appliance Technicians
76% similar · $48,030 (−3%) · High school · Same group
- 2Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
75% similar · $39,460 (−20%) · High school · Same group
- 3Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
74% similar · $46,880 (−6%) · High school
- 4Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers
74% similar · $46,170 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 5Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
73% similar · $51,330 (+3%) · High school
- 6Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
72% similar · $48,220 (−3%) · High school
- 7Etchers and Engravers
72% similar · $43,310 (−13%) · High school · Same group
- 8Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
72% similar · $43,960 (−11%) · High school
- 9Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
71% similar · $47,920 (−3%) · High school
- 10Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
71% similar · $46,170 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 11Prepress Technicians and Workers
71% similar · $48,690 (−2%) · Training or associate
- 12Tire Builders
71% similar · $57,390 (+16%) · High school · Same group
- 13Furniture Finishers
71% similar · $44,540 (−10%) · High school
- 14Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
70% similar · $78,350 (broader group) · High school
- 15Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
70% similar · $74,510 (+50%) · Training or associate
- 16Foundry Mold and Coremakers
70% similar · $48,110 (−3%) · High school
- 17Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
70% similar · $48,570 (−2%) · High school · Same group
- 18Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
70% similar · $46,350 (−7%) · High school
- 19Endoscopy Technicians
70% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · High school
- 20Semiconductor Processing Technicians
70% similar · $51,430 (+4%) · High school · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than dental laboratory technicians.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for dental laboratory technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where dental laboratory technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like dental laboratory technicians
What jobs are most similar to dental laboratory technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Medical Appliance Technicians (76% similar), Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians (75% similar), Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators (74% similar), Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers (74% similar) and Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters (73% similar).
Which jobs like dental laboratory technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians ($74,510, +50%; usually training or an associate degree), Tire Builders ($57,390, +16%; usually a high school diploma) and Semiconductor Processing Technicians ($51,430, +4%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with dental laboratory technicians ($49,610). Without more preparation than dental laboratory technicians usually need: Tire Builders, Semiconductor Processing Technicians and Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.