# Dental Laboratory Technicians

> Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dental-laboratory-technicians
- SOC code: 51-9081.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $49,610 (10th percentile $36,660, 90th percentile $76,940)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.9%
- Openings a year: 3,600
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 94 |
| Investigative (I) | 58 |
| Artistic (A) | 9 |
| Social (S) | 28 |
| Enterprising (E) | 0 |
| Conventional (C) | 52 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 84/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 76/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 76/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 75/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 74/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 72/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring, Active Learning, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Speaking

## Knowledge

Administration and Management, Design, English Language, Medicine and Dentistry, Production and Processing, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Mechanical, Computers and Electronics, Engineering and Technology

## 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), Crown and Bridge Technician (Crown and Bridge Tech), Crown Ceramist, Dental Appliance Fixer, Dental Appliance Mechanic

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Dental Support Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5106) (CIP 5106, 553 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of the Pacific](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-the-pacific-3061) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $93,453 | $86,150 | $24,950 |
| [West Coast University-Orange County](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-coast-university-orange-county-3204) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $83,943 | $85,797 | $28,250 |
| [Lake Washington Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lake-washington-institute-of-technology-1427) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $106,697 | $85,286 | $15,900 |
| [MCPHS University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mcphs-university-1630) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $70,434 | $83,253 | $25,000 |
| [Foothill College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/foothill-college-989) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $82,028 | $23,000 |
| [Community College of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/community-college-of-denver-668) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | not reported | $81,896 | not reported |
| [University of Hawaii at Manoa Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa-main-campus-2915) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $76,939 | $79,863 | not reported |
| [Loma Linda University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loma-linda-university-1516) | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $82,823 | $79,207 | $20,000 |

## Related careers

- [Medical Appliance Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-appliance-technicians): $48,030 median pay
- [Dental Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dental-assistants): $48,070 median pay
- [Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmic-laboratory-technicians): $39,460 median pay
- [Medical Equipment Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-equipment-repairers): $61,660 median pay
- [Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/molders-shapers-and-casters-except-metal-and-plastic): $46,170 median pay
- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.