Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Lab Technician Salary in California

The median dental lab technician earns $47,410 a year in California, with most between $39,190 and $60,750.

25th percentile

$39,190

Entry / lower range

Median

$47,410

The typical pay

75th percentile

$60,750

Experienced / upper range

That's roughly $47,410 per year or $22.80/hr at the median. California runs about 4% below the national median.

Top-paying metros in California

Metro area
Median
Typical range
Santa Rosa-Petaluma
$65,500
$61,950–$73,610
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
$60,940
$49,550–$72,430
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
$60,510
$51,380–$73,800
Stockton-Lodi
$59,110
$45,910–$64,460
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
$57,020
$45,200–$59,710
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
$50,910
$45,790–$65,050

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Figures are gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living.

What drives dental lab technician pay in California

Pay for a dental lab techniciandepends on experience, setting, and metro. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) often sit toward the upper end of the range, since they compete for talent across multiple locations and can offer benefits and advancement a single practice can't.

Across dentistry, hiring is hard and getting harder: staffing is consistently ranked among dentists' top challenges, and open roles routinely take well over two months to fill. For candidates, that means leverage; for employers, it means speed and fit matter more than ever.

For dental pros

Know your worth, then go get it

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Dental Lab Technician salary in California: FAQ

What is the average dental lab technician salary in California?

The median dental lab technician salary in California is about $47,410 per year ($22.80/hr), based on BLS OEWS data (May 2025). Most earn between $39,190 and $60,750.

How does California compare to the national average?

At a $47,410 median, dental lab technician pay in California runs about 4% below the national median. Local cost of living and demand drive most of the difference.

Which California cities pay dental lab technicians the most?

Among California metros, Santa Rosa-Petaluma is at the top, with a median around $65,500.

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Dental Lab Technician salary by state