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Dental Laboratory Technicians in North Carolina

Dental Laboratory Technicians in North Carolina

Considering working as a Dental Laboratory Technicians in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances. Excludes “Dental Assistants” (31-9091).

What do Dental Laboratory Technicians Make in North Carolina?

The dental laboratory technicians working in North Carolina, the typical annual salary is $49,460 per year (or about $23.78/hour).Annual wages span from $35,320 at the 10th percentile to $75,850 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $35,320 $16.98
25th percentile $37,330 $17.95
Median (50th) $49,460 $23.78
75th percentile $60,790 $29.23
90th percentile $75,850 $36.47
Salary ranges for Dental Laboratory Technicians in North Carolina

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in North Carolina relative to the national average — is 0.80, indicating fewer dental laboratory technicians per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, dental laboratory technicians earn a median of $25,417 per year ($12.22/hour), exceeding the North Carolina median.

Dental Laboratory Technicians earnings in North Carolina vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 112,055 dental laboratory technicians nationwide. In North Carolina alone, approximately 860 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 440 dental laboratory technicians.

Dental Laboratory Technicians in North Carolina vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Dental Laboratory Technicians

Top North Carolina Metros for Dental Laboratory Technicians

These are the North Carolina metros with the most dental laboratory technicians in North Carolina.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 280 $50,540
Raleigh-Cary, NC 100 $49,460
Greensboro-High Point, NC 80 $49,460
Asheville, NC 70 $49,970
Winston-Salem, NC 40 $51,090
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 30 $50,430
Wilmington, NC 30 $48,970

Top States for Dental Laboratory Technicians Employment

View the states that employ the most dental laboratory technicians work.

State Number Employed
California 3,950
Florida 2,170
New York 2,130
Texas 1,690
Illinois 1,440
Georgia 1,380
Michigan 1,290
Utah 1,170
Ohio 1,110
Pennsylvania 1,100
Alabama 1,090
Virginia 1,020
Missouri 1,000
New Jersey 940
Arizona 930
North Carolina 860
Washington 830
Wisconsin 810
Tennessee 770
Indiana 730

Highest-Paying States for Dental Laboratory Technicians

These states pay the most for dental laboratory technicians.

State Annual Median Salary
Colorado $63,170
Massachusetts $59,270
Alaska $59,150
Rhode Island $57,520
Minnesota $57,180
Florida $56,910
North Dakota $56,540
Washington $56,360
Vermont $56,160
Maine $56,020

Skills

The most important dental laboratory technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Reading Comprehension  3.4 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.2 / 5
0
5
Time Management  3.2 / 5
0
5
Operations Monitoring  3.1 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.1 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.0 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Design  3.8 / 5
0
5
Administration and Management  3.8 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.6 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  3.6 / 5
0
5
Production and Processing  3.5 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for dental laboratory technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Near Vision  4.0 / 5
0
5
Finger Dexterity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Control Precision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Arm-Hand Steadiness  3.9 / 5
0
5
Visualization  3.6 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.4 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
  • Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
  • Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
  • Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
  • Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
  • Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
  • Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatuses.
  • Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
  • Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
  • Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
  • Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
  • Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.

Work Activities

  • Thinking Creatively
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Processing Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Dental Support Services

Careers similar to dental laboratory technicians include:

Also Known As

Bridge Technician, CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), CAM Tech (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technician), Ceramist, Certified Dental Technologist (CDT), Crown Ceramist, Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech), Crown and Bridge Technician (Crown and Bridge Tech), Dental Appliance Fixer, Dental Appliance Mechanic, Dental Appliance Repairer, Dental Ceramist, Dental Ceramist Assistant, Dental Equipment Installer and Servicer, Dental Instrument Maker.

References

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