California Median
$47,410
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.79
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-4% vs US median
US median $49,610
State Rank
#32 of 46
4,480 employed here
How much does a Dental Laboratory Technician make in California?
A Dental Laboratory Technician working in California earns a median salary of $47,410 per year, or about $22.79 per hour. That is 4% below the national median of $49,610 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $36,660 while the top 10% make $74,200 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,190 and $60,750 a year.
Dental Laboratory Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,660 | $17.63 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $39,190 | $18.84 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,410 | $22.79 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $60,750 | $29.21 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,200 | $35.67 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 32nd out of 46 states and territories for Dental Laboratory Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Dental Laboratory Technician salary in other states
Massachusetts $72,800North Dakota $67,580Maine $64,020Colorado $61,220New Hampshire $60,610Florida $59,790Nebraska $58,590Kansas $56,790Washington $56,400Minnesota $56,090New York $52,460Virginia $51,900Illinois $51,380Arkansas $49,960Indiana $49,920North Carolina $49,700Michigan $49,570Georgia $49,310Pennsylvania $49,280Tennessee $48,880Oregon $48,800Oklahoma $48,670Ohio $48,480South Dakota $48,370Nevada $48,190Arizona $47,930Maryland $47,850Mississippi $47,770West Virginia $47,740Montana $47,560Iowa $47,520Idaho $47,380New Jersey $47,270Wisconsin $47,170Utah $47,110Missouri $46,870Kentucky $46,770Texas $46,330Alabama $45,760Rhode Island $45,320Hawaii $45,300New Mexico $45,300Delaware $38,500Louisiana $38,490South Carolina $37,170
Working as a Dental Laboratory Technician in California
Nationally, about 34,000 people work as Dental Laboratory Technicians in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($47,410) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dental Laboratory Technician make in California?
The median Dental Laboratory Technician salary in California is $47,410 per year, or about $22.79 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,660 at the entry level to $74,200 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Dental Laboratory Technicians about 4% less than the national median of $49,610. California ranks 32nd out of 46 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Dental Laboratory Technicians?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $47,410 a year. About 4,480 Dental Laboratory Technicians are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Dental Laboratory Technician salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.