Dental Laboratory Technician salary in Illinois
Dental Laboratory Technicians in Illinois earn a median of $51,380 a year ($24.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,150 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $49,610. Illinois ranks 13th of 46 states for dental laboratory technicians pay. There are 0.33 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $53,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,120 | $19.29 |
| 25th percentile | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Median | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| 75th percentile | $54,890 | $26.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,150 | $32.28 |
| Average (mean) | $53,070 | $25.52 |
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 cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $51,380 | 1,440 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $56,400 | $27.11 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,740 | $23.92 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,830 | $33.09 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $36,840 | $17.71 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in Illinois is $51,380 a year, or $24.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in Illinois?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in Illinois earn at least $67,150 a year. The top 25% earn $54,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,120 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $48,430 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in Illinois?
About 2,030 dental laboratory technicians are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.