Dental Laboratory Technician salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Dental Laboratory Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $51,380 a year ($24.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,140 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $49,610. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $51,380. There are 0.32 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $53,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| 25th percentile | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| Median | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| 75th percentile | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,140 | $32.28 |
| Average (mean) | $53,670 | $25.80 |
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 | $4,281.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,140.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,976.15 |
| Weekly | $988.08 |
| Hourly | $24.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dental Laboratory Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $53,150 | 140 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $51,750 | 210 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $50,380 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,920 | 190 |
| Rockford, IL | $49,310 | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $48,730 | 90 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,160 | 500 |
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 |
See Dental Laboratory Technician pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,230 | $24.15 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,660 | $23.39 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,250 | $19.83 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,250 | $29.45 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,020 | $28.38 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,910 | $23.51 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,150 | $22.67 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $69,400 | $33.36 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Medical Appliance Technician | $47,310 | $22.74 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $51,380 a year, or $24.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $67,140 a year. The top 25% earn $51,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,630 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $51,380 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,440 dental laboratory technicians are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.