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 ($22.80 an hour), with the middle half earning between $39,190 and $60,750.[1]
25th percentile
$39,190
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$47,410
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$60,750
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $47,410 per year or $22.80/hr at the median. California runs about 4% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in California
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 California earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | California hourly | California annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.62 | $36,660 | $17.62 | $36,660 |
| 25th percentile | $18.84 | $39,190 | $19.43 | $40,420 |
| Median | $22.80 | $47,410 | $23.85 | $49,610 |
| 75th percentile | $29.21 | $60,750 | $29.84 | $62,070 |
| 90th percentile | $35.68 | $74,200 | $36.99 | $76,940 |
| Mean (average) | $25.58 | $53,210 | $26.10 | $54,290 |
How many dental lab technicians work in California
4,480
0.25
1.11
How California compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $47,410 in California vs. $49,610 nationally, $2,200 (4%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $36,660 vs. $36,660, about the same.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $74,200 vs. $76,940, 4% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -2.1% in California vs. -4.5% nationally.
Dental Lab Technician pay by metro area in California
All 12 California metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $65,500 | $61,950–$73,610 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $60,940 | $49,550–$72,430 | 280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $60,510 | $51,380–$73,800 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $59,110 | $45,910–$64,460 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $57,020 | $45,200–$59,710 | 240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $50,910 | $45,790–$65,050 | 250 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $50,690 | $46,470–$62,000 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $49,660 | $48,000–$59,230 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $47,410 | $46,220–$47,410 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $46,460 | $36,660–$60,230 | 2,710 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $46,300 | $44,250–$60,680 | 50 |
| Fresno | $45,010 | $43,170–$57,890 | 40 |
Job outlook for dental lab technicians in California
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 2.1% over 2024–2034, from 4,700 to 4,600 jobs, with about 540 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 California
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.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental lab technician roles in California, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Lab Technician salary in California: FAQ
How much do dental lab technicians make in California?
The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in California was $47,410 ($22.80 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $39,190 and $60,750. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,660 and the top 10% earned over $74,200.
Do dental lab technicians in California earn more than the national median?
No. The California median of $47,410 is lower than the U.S. median of $49,610. That is $2,200 (4%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which California metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?
Among the 12 California metro areas with published BLS data, Santa Rosa-Petaluma has the highest median at $65,500 a year. Fresno has the lowest, at $45,010.
How many dental lab technicians work in California?
BLS estimates 4,480 dental lab technicians were employed in California in May 2025. That is 0.25 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.11, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in California?
California's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 2.1% over 2024–2034, from 4,700 to 4,600 jobs. That works out to about 540 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is -4.5%.
Hiring in California?
Fill dental lab technician roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in California
Dental Lab Technician salary by state
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Texas
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Florida
- Dental Lab Technician salary in New York
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Illinois
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Pennsylvania
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Ohio
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Georgia
- Dental Lab Technician salary in North Carolina
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Laboratory Technicians (51-9081), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, California long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Laboratory Technicians