Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Lab Technician Salary in Alabama

The median dental lab technician earns $45,760 a year in Alabama ($22.00 an hour), with the middle half earning between $37,720 and $50,080.[1]

Updated October 2026 with BLS May 2025 wage data, the latest release.

25th percentile

$37,720

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$45,760

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$50,080

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $45,760 per year or $22.00/hr at the median. Alabama runs about 8% lower than the national median.

The full pay range in Alabama

BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental lab technicians in Alabama earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]

Dental Lab Technician wages, Alabama vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileAlabama hourlyAlabama annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$15.55$32,350$17.62$36,660
25th percentile$18.14$37,720$19.43$40,420
Median$22.00$45,760$23.85$49,610
75th percentile$24.08$50,080$29.84$62,070
90th percentile$29.45$61,250$36.99$76,940
Mean (average)$21.84$45,430$26.10$54,290

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Wages are gross pay for employees and exclude the self-employed. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work (hourly rate × 2,080 hours) where BLS reports hourly pay.

How many dental lab technicians work in Alabama

Employed

1,050

About 3.1% of all U.S. dental lab technicians (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.50

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

2.24

1.00 = U.S. average; Alabama is more concentrated than the national average

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] A location quotient above 1 means the role makes up a bigger share of jobs here than nationally.

How Alabama compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $45,760 in Alabama vs. $49,610 nationally, $3,850 (8%) lower.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $32,350 vs. $36,660, 12% lower.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $61,250 vs. $76,940, 20% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 9.7% in Alabama vs. -4.5% nationally.

DSO Hire calculation: (state figure minus U.S. figure) divided by the U.S. figure, from BLS OEWS May 2025[1] and Projections Central[3]. Not adjusted for cost of living.

Dental Lab Technician pay by metro area in Alabama

All 7 Alabama metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Lab Technician pay by Alabama metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley$48,050$37,940–$51,15060
Dothan$47,390$38,470–$48,22050
Auburn-Opelika$46,770$37,810–$49,73050
Mobile$45,000$37,530–$49,21090
Columbus$43,850$42,850–$60,44030
Birmingham$43,750$37,720–$54,630140
Huntsville$43,580$38,570–$50,350410

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living. Metro areas cross state lines where noted in the name.

Job outlook for dental lab technicians in Alabama

Alabama's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to grow 9.7% over 2024–2034, from 1,110 to 1,220 jobs, with about 150 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is -4.5%.

Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.

What drives dental lab technician pay in Alabama

Pay for a dental lab technician depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.

Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.

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Dental Lab Technician salary in Alabama: FAQ

How much do dental lab technicians make in Alabama?

The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in Alabama was $45,760 ($22.00 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $37,720 and $50,080. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $32,350 and the top 10% earned over $61,250.

Do dental lab technicians in Alabama earn more than the national median?

No. The Alabama median of $45,760 is lower than the U.S. median of $49,610. That is $3,850 (8%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which Alabama metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?

Among the 7 Alabama metro areas with published BLS data, Daphne-Fairhope-Foley has the highest median at $48,050 a year. Huntsville has the lowest, at $43,580.

How many dental lab technicians work in Alabama?

BLS estimates 1,050 dental lab technicians were employed in Alabama in May 2025. That is 0.50 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 2.24, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in Alabama?

Alabama's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to grow 9.7% over 2024–2034, from 1,110 to 1,220 jobs. That works out to about 150 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is -4.5%.

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