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Dental Technologists

Dental technologists construct custom dental appliances.

Dental Technologists Median Salary: $35,100

Bringing in a median yearly pay of $35,100 nationally in 2010, dental technologists are a critical part of prosperous economies across the United States. Hourly, that yearly pay works out to $16.90 for an average dental technologist. Place can play a big role in how much you bring home, but it's nothing compared to how much incomes differ because of education and experience, which means proper training is most definitely crucial.

As the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, there were a reported 38,360 working as dental technologists nationwide in 2010. A successful dental technologist will regularly be described as realistic, investigative, and conventional. The right combination of traits and training is critical for anyone intending to progress in this industry.

For dental technologists, it's important to cultivate skills like:

  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Written Comprehension
  • Category Flexibility
  • Visualization

Valuable traits for dental technologists include:

  • Stress Tolerance
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Social Orientation

Key subjects for dental technologists include:

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Production and Processing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Design

Getting the right training is crucial for success as a dental technologist. You need to prepared when you're asked to begin communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates, thinking creatively, or analyzing data or information, all typical daily tasks. Want to learn more about dental technologists? You can find everything from pay data to job density for every metropolitan area in the United States.

Considering a career in dental lab technology? Check out dental lab technology schools.

Alabama
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Birmingham 150 $30,500 $14.60 $38,000 $18.30 4%
Decatur 30 $29,400 $14.10 $34,800 $16.70 97.4%
Dothan 40 $23,500 $11.30 $32,500 $15.60 150%
Florence 30 $28,200 $13.50 $33,000 $15.90 102.6%
Huntsville 240 $33,600 $16.10 $40,500 $19.50 284.4%
Mobile 50 $24,800 $11.90 $32,800 $15.80 4%
Montgomery 50 $33,000 $15.90 $48,200 $23.20 -4.3%

Alaska
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Anchorage 60 $62,900 $30.30 $69,400 $33.40 23.5%

Arizona
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lake Havasu City 40 $33,600 $16.20 $37,900 $18.20 180.5%
Phoenix 460 $32,300 $15.60 $40,500 $19.50 -8.9%
Tucson 160 $31,800 $15.30 $40,600 $19.50 55.6%

Arkansas
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Fayetteville 30 $38,200 $18.40 $42,500 $20.50 -48.3%
Little Rock 40 $44,100 $21.20 $48,400 $23.30 -62.6%

California
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bakersfield 40 $31,500 $15.10 $38,100 $18.30 -51%
Fresno 30 $39,400 $18.90 $56,500 $27.20 -65.2%
Los Angeles (Area) 1,820 $35,800 $17.20 $45,700 $22.00 15.9%
Napa 40 $38,000 $18.30 $50,100 $24.10 125.5%
Oakland 560 $40,800 $19.60 $53,000 $25.50 94.4%
Riverside 90 $52,700 $25.30 $79,200 $38.10 -72.5%
Sacramento 270 $37,100 $17.80 $46,600 $22.40 7.9%
San Diego 430 $36,500 $17.50 $46,700 $22.50 15.6%
San Francisco (Area) 650 $41,400 $19.90 $55,000 $26.50 13.6%
San Francisco (City) 90 $49,000 $23.60 $65,600 $31.60 -67.2%
San Jose 540 $33,700 $16.20 $44,400 $21.30 109.6%
San Luis Obispo 30 $41,000 $19.70 $44,900 $21.60 3.3%
Santa Barbara 50 $35,800 $17.20 $54,800 $26.40 -0.7%
Santa Rosa 100 $34,600 $16.60 $42,400 $20.40 85.4%
Stockton 50 $28,800 $13.80 $32,700 $15.70 -21.2%
Vallejo 100 $41,700 $20.00 $46,600 $22.40 189.7%

Colorado
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Colorado Springs 60 $52,200 $25.10 $58,900 $28.30 -21.9%
Denver 440 $37,400 $18.00 $55,400 $26.70 21.9%
Fort Collins NA $37,300 $17.90 $43,400 $20.90 NA
Grand Junction NA $43,000 $20.70 $51,100 $24.60 NA

Connecticut
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bridgeport NA $31,800 $15.30 $42,700 $20.60 NA
Hartford 90 $51,100 $24.60 $68,700 $33.00 -47.7%
New Haven 60 $34,500 $16.60 $38,200 $18.40 -27.2%

District of Columbia
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) 650 $39,300 $18.90 $48,800 $23.50 -23.8%

Florida
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Cape Coral NA $17,600 $8.50 $18,800 $9.10 NA
Gainesville 70 $34,100 $16.40 $46,000 $22.10 90.1%
Jacksonville 250 $38,000 $18.30 $44,700 $21.50 45.4%
Lakeland NA $37,300 $18.00 $44,700 $21.50 NA
Miami (Area) 1,120 $30,500 $14.70 $41,300 $19.80 73.8%
Orlando 240 $34,400 $16.50 $44,200 $21.20 -18.5%
Palm Bay 130 $37,800 $18.20 $46,600 $22.40 131.8%
Pensacola 60 $30,800 $14.80 $39,300 $18.90 30.1%
Tampa 530 $32,800 $15.80 $43,100 $20.70 59.6%

Georgia
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 750 $37,800 $18.20 $45,600 $21.90 13.2%
Augusta 80 $38,600 $18.60 $53,000 $25.50 33.1%
Gainesville 180 $35,900 $17.30 $49,200 $23.70 769.9%
Macon 60 $42,200 $20.30 $52,300 $25.10 122.2%
Warner Robins NA $33,900 $16.30 $40,300 $19.40 NA

Hawaii
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Honolulu 100 $34,400 $16.50 $42,900 $20.60 -20.2%

Idaho
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boise City NA $27,400 $13.20 $41,300 $19.80 NA
Coeur d'Alene 50 $36,800 $17.70 $54,600 $26.30 232.8%
Idaho Falls 40 $43,000 $20.70 $58,000 $27.90 208.3%

Illinois
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chicago (Area) 1,120 $33,500 $16.10 $45,400 $21.80 -10.9%
Springfield 40 $35,700 $17.10 $46,200 $22.20 39.7%

Indiana
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Fort Wayne 100 $32,000 $15.40 $36,700 $17.70 67.2%
Indianapolis 340 $35,100 $16.90 $37,600 $18.10 34.1%
South Bend 70 $35,200 $16.90 $40,500 $19.50 95%

Iowa
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Cedar Rapids 130 $36,300 $17.40 $45,800 $22.00 215.6%
Davenport 80 $33,700 $16.20 $41,300 $19.90 57.9%
Des Moines 70 $37,200 $17.90 $52,000 $25.00 -28.8%
Iowa City 40 $29,700 $14.30 $37,800 $18.20 43.4%
Sioux City 40 $28,200 $13.60 $35,200 $16.90 78.8%
Waterloo 60 $28,900 $13.90 $36,600 $17.60 139.1%

Kansas
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Topeka 40 $36,100 $17.40 $45,500 $21.90 20.5%
Wichita 80 $33,000 $15.90 $40,000 $19.20 1%

Kentucky
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lexington 70 $34,700 $16.70 $40,300 $19.40 -9.9%
Louisville 160 $41,300 $19.90 $56,600 $27.20 -8.6%

Louisiana
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baton Rouge 80 $31,100 $14.90 $38,100 $18.30 -21.9%
Lafayette 50 $27,700 $13.30 $30,900 $14.90 21.2%
New Orleans 190 $30,800 $14.80 $35,400 $17.00 22.5%
Shreveport 120 $32,800 $15.80 $37,700 $18.10 127.8%

Maine
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Portland 50 $44,000 $21.20 $57,300 $27.60 -10.6%

Maryland
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore 270 $41,300 $19.80 $47,500 $22.80 -27.8%

Massachusetts
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) 580 $46,800 $22.50 $67,600 $32.50 -19.9%
Springfield 40 $29,500 $14.20 $36,400 $17.50 -56.6%
Worcester 40 $38,800 $18.70 $54,600 $26.30 -38.7%

Michigan
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ann Arbor NA $38,100 $18.30 $44,500 $21.40 NA
Bay City 30 $28,400 $13.70 $33,900 $16.30 218.2%
Detroit (Area) 970 $36,900 $17.70 $46,200 $22.20 90.1%
Flint NA $35,400 $17.00 $43,500 $20.90 NA
Grand Rapids 150 $33,400 $16.00 $42,000 $20.20 34.8%
Holland NA $35,800 $17.20 $39,800 $19.10 NA
Jackson 40 $48,600 $23.30 $57,000 $27.40 181.1%
Kalamazoo 60 $33,800 $16.20 $45,900 $22.00 52.6%
Lansing 70 $37,800 $18.20 $45,900 $22.10 12.3%

Minnesota
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Minneapolis 820 $45,600 $21.90 $55,400 $26.60 61.3%

Mississippi
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Jackson 90 $31,600 $15.20 $36,700 $17.60 17.5%

Missouri
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Kansas City 530 $36,100 $17.30 $44,200 $21.30 84.1%
Springfield 100 $36,900 $17.80 $46,200 $22.20 73.5%
St. Louis 530 $39,400 $18.90 $51,300 $24.70 40.7%

Montana
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Billings 30 $54,100 $26.00 $100,400 $48.30 37.7%

Nebraska
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lincoln 70 $36,100 $17.40 $51,400 $24.70 52.6%
Omaha 130 $37,100 $17.80 $47,400 $22.80 -3.6%

Nevada
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Las Vegas NA $40,900 $19.70 $45,400 $21.80 NA
Reno 40 $35,600 $17.10 $43,100 $20.70 -22.2%

New Hampshire
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Manchester 90 $34,000 $16.40 $42,000 $20.20 211.3%

New Mexico
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albuquerque 150 $34,300 $16.50 $41,900 $20.20 37.1%

New York
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albany 50 $29,800 $14.30 $41,600 $20.00 -62.3%
Buffalo 330 $33,100 $15.90 $41,400 $19.90 109.6%
Glens Falls 50 $31,400 $15.10 $35,400 $17.00 224.5%
New York (Area) 1,990 $39,300 $18.90 $50,500 $24.30 -18.5%
Rochester 60 $33,700 $16.20 $37,700 $18.10 -56.6%
Syracuse NA $37,200 $17.90 $45,200 $21.70 NA
Utica 160 $27,600 $13.30 $36,200 $17.40 329.8%

North Carolina
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Asheville 90 $33,200 $16.00 $50,500 $24.30 82.8%
Charlotte 250 $34,400 $16.50 $43,000 $20.70 1.7%
Durham 90 $32,900 $15.80 $45,900 $22.10 7.3%
Fayetteville 60 $40,900 $19.70 $56,900 $27.40 50%
Greensboro 120 $35,000 $16.80 $40,600 $19.50 20.5%
Hickory 30 $28,800 $13.80 $35,100 $16.90 -17.5%
Raleigh 100 $30,500 $14.70 $37,300 $18.00 -29.8%
Winston-Salem 50 $37,800 $18.20 $42,300 $20.40 -20.5%

North Dakota
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Fargo 110 $30,800 $14.80 $35,700 $17.10 218.5%

Ohio
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Akron 80 $32,900 $15.80 $37,100 $17.80 -10.9%
Cincinnati 310 $38,100 $18.30 $51,400 $24.70 7.6%
Cleveland 300 $30,300 $14.60 $39,300 $18.90 3.6%
Columbus 220 $40,700 $19.60 $49,400 $23.70 -18.9%
Dayton 190 $43,900 $21.10 $61,800 $29.70 72.8%
Toledo 60 $33,900 $16.30 $39,400 $19.00 -32.1%
Youngstown 70 $23,700 $11.40 $29,500 $14.20 10.9%

Oklahoma
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Oklahoma City 80 $28,000 $13.50 $35,700 $17.20 -54.3%
Tulsa 230 $30,000 $14.40 $41,300 $19.90 87.7%

Oregon
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Eugene NA $37,700 $18.10 $43,600 $21.00 NA
Medford 60 $33,200 $15.90 $40,600 $19.50 186.1%
Portland 600 $36,900 $17.70 $44,200 $21.20 106.3%
Salem 60 $28,900 $13.90 $35,400 $17.00 38.1%

Pennsylvania
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Erie 60 $34,700 $16.70 $37,300 $17.90 51%
Harrisburg 130 $33,900 $16.30 $45,400 $21.80 38.7%
Philadelphia (Area) 600 $36,100 $17.40 $45,700 $22.00 -24.2%
Pittsburgh NA $40,500 $19.50 $45,300 $21.80 NA
Reading NA $33,100 $15.90 $39,900 $19.20 NA
Scranton 50 $37,500 $18.00 $52,500 $25.30 -26.8%

Rhode Island
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Providence 60 $37,000 $17.80 $45,700 $22.00 -65.6%

South Carolina
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charleston 60 $31,800 $15.30 $37,100 $17.90 -31.8%
Greenville NA $29,200 $14.00 $34,200 $16.50 NA
Spartanburg NA $36,200 $17.40 $45,100 $21.70 NA

Tennessee
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chattanooga NA $47,500 $22.80 $66,400 $31.90 NA
Kingsport 70 NA NA NA NA 107.3%
Knoxville NA $30,300 $14.60 $34,600 $16.60 NA
Memphis 180 $29,700 $14.30 $36,700 $17.60 -0.7%
Nashville 230 $29,300 $14.10 $39,700 $19.10 8.6%

Texas
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Amarillo 50 $33,900 $16.30 $41,500 $20.00 56.3%
Austin NA $24,500 $11.80 $28,800 $13.90 NA
Beaumont 40 $31,100 $15.00 $39,900 $19.20 -8.9%
Corpus Christi 80 $33,300 $16.00 $61,600 $29.60 53.6%
Dallas (Area) 760 $33,100 $15.90 $45,800 $22.00 -11.6%
El Paso 110 $20,100 $9.70 $26,500 $12.70 32.5%
Houston 390 $26,000 $12.50 $40,900 $19.70 -48.3%
Lubbock 40 $27,100 $13.00 $37,200 $17.90 19.9%
San Antonio 220 $30,100 $14.50 $39,200 $18.90 -11.9%
Tyler 50 $33,400 $16.10 $36,400 $17.50 80.5%
Waco 40 $42,000 $20.20 $54,700 $26.30 40.7%

Utah
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ogden 50 $34,500 $16.60 $43,100 $20.70 -4.3%
Provo 180 $36,800 $17.70 $48,000 $23.10 249%
Salt Lake City 340 $44,400 $21.40 $60,500 $29.10 92.1%

Vermont
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Burlington 50 $38,200 $18.40 $45,000 $21.60 48.7%

Virginia
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Richmond 200 $32,600 $15.70 $39,800 $19.20 16.2%
Roanoke 70 $33,000 $15.90 $39,400 $19.00 52%
Virginia Beach 240 $42,200 $20.30 $52,200 $25.10 12.9%

Washington
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bellingham 40 $38,700 $18.60 $44,800 $21.50 75.8%
Bremerton 90 $30,900 $14.80 $54,800 $26.30 261.6%
Olympia 70 $39,900 $19.20 $56,700 $27.30 163.9%
Seattle (Area) 520 $47,900 $23.00 $57,300 $27.60 7.9%
Spokane NA $31,300 $15.10 $37,300 $18.00 NA
Yakima 50 $33,600 $16.10 $40,600 $19.50 107%

West Virginia
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charleston NA $27,500 $13.20 $60,000 $28.80 NA
Huntington 40 $33,400 $16.10 $38,300 $18.40 19.2%

Wisconsin
City/AreaEmployeesMedian
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Green Bay 190 $33,500 $16.10 $41,800 $20.10 278.8%
Madison 200 $33,900 $16.30 $43,100 $20.70 105%
Milwaukee 190 $38,800 $18.60 $53,000 $25.50 -19.5%
Oshkosh 80 $30,900 $14.90 $36,200 $17.40 225.5%
Racine NA $27,500 $13.20 $34,300 $16.50 NA

Thanks to Healthcare Careers for this information.