Dental Laboratory Technician salary in Tennessee
Dental Laboratory Technicians in Tennessee earn a median of $48,880 a year ($23.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,020 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $49,610. Tennessee ranks 20th of 46 states for dental laboratory technicians pay. There are 0.18 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| 25th percentile | $40,470 | $19.46 |
| Median | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| 75th percentile | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,020 | $37.99 |
| Average (mean) | $53,920 | $25.92 |
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 | $4,073.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,036.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,880 |
| Weekly | $940 |
| Hourly | $23.50 |
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 Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | $55,340 | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $51,050 | 170 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $50,590 | 130 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $48,880 | 70 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,190 | $20.77 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,970 | $20.18 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Tire Builder | $74,100 | $35.63 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,030 | $21.17 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in Tennessee is $48,880 a year, or $23.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in Tennessee earn at least $79,020 a year. The top 25% earn $62,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,520 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $40,470 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in Tennessee?
About 610 dental laboratory technicians are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.