Dental Laboratory Technician salary in Iowa
Dental Laboratory Technicians in Iowa earn a median of $47,520 a year ($22.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,450 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $49,610. Iowa ranks 31st of 46 states for dental laboratory technicians pay. There are 0.24 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $52,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,750 | $17.19 |
| 25th percentile | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| Median | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| 75th percentile | $58,170 | $27.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,450 | $32.43 |
| Average (mean) | $52,700 | $25.34 |
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 | $3,960 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,980 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,827.69 |
| Weekly | $913.85 |
| Hourly | $22.85 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $58,630 | 90 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $47,550 | 50 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $47,030 | 140 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,300 | $25.15 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,570 | $24.79 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $45,560 | $21.91 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,550 | $27.67 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,590 | $30.09 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,220 | $25.11 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,600 | $23.84 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Tire Builder | $50,600 | $24.33 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in Iowa is $47,520 a year, or $22.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $67,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in Iowa?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in Iowa earn at least $67,450 a year. The top 25% earn $58,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,750 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $38,890 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in Iowa?
About 380 dental laboratory technicians are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.