Dental Laboratory Technician salary in California
Dental Laboratory Technicians in California earn a median of $47,410 a year ($22.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,480 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,200 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $49,610. California ranks 32nd of 46 states for dental laboratory technicians pay. There are 0.25 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,660 | $17.62 |
| 25th percentile | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Median | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| 75th percentile | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,200 | $35.68 |
| Average (mean) | $53,210 | $25.58 |
Half of dental laboratory technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,950.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,975.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,823.46 |
| Weekly | $911.73 |
| Hourly | $22.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dental Laboratory Technician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $65,500 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,940 | 280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,510 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,110 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,020 | 240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $50,910 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $50,690 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $49,660 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,410 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,460 | 2,710 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $46,300 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,010 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for dental laboratory technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $72,800 |
| North Dakota | $67,580 |
| Maine | $64,020 |
| Colorado | $61,220 |
| New Hampshire | $60,610 |
| Florida | $59,790 |
| Nebraska | $58,590 |
| Kansas | $56,790 |
| Washington | $56,400 |
| Minnesota | $56,090 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $23.65 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $22.17 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental laboratory technician make in California?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in California is $47,410 a year, or $22.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,660 for the lowest-paid 10% to $74,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in California?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in California earn at least $74,200 a year. The top 25% earn $60,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,660 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $39,190 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in California?
About 4,480 dental laboratory technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.