Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Lab Technician Salary in Illinois
The median dental lab technician earns $51,380 a year in Illinois ($24.70 an hour), with the middle half earning between $48,430 and $54,890.[1]
25th percentile
$48,430
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$51,380
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$54,890
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $51,380 per year or $24.70/hr at the median. Illinois runs about 4% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Illinois
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 Illinois earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Illinois hourly | Illinois annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $19.29 | $40,120 | $17.62 | $36,660 |
| 25th percentile | $23.28 | $48,430 | $19.43 | $40,420 |
| Median | $24.70 | $51,380 | $23.85 | $49,610 |
| 75th percentile | $26.39 | $54,890 | $29.84 | $62,070 |
| 90th percentile | $32.28 | $67,150 | $36.99 | $76,940 |
| Mean (average) | $25.52 | $53,070 | $26.10 | $54,290 |
How many dental lab technicians work in Illinois
2,030
0.33
1.50
How Illinois compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $51,380 in Illinois vs. $49,610 nationally, $1,770 (4%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $40,120 vs. $36,660, 9% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $67,150 vs. $76,940, 13% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -5% in Illinois vs. -4.5% nationally.
Dental Lab Technician pay by metro area in Illinois
All 4 Illinois metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $51,380 | $51,380–$51,380 | 1,440 |
| Rockford | $49,310 | $45,900–$61,980 | 50 |
| Peoria | $48,730 | $39,710–$63,490 | 90 |
| St. Louis | $47,160 | $40,000–$64,050 | 500 |
Job outlook for dental lab technicians in Illinois
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 5% over 2024–2034, from 1,790 to 1,700 jobs, with about 200 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 Illinois
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 Illinois: FAQ
How much do dental lab technicians make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in Illinois was $51,380 ($24.70 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $48,430 and $54,890. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $40,120 and the top 10% earned over $67,150.
Do dental lab technicians in Illinois earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Illinois median of $51,380 is higher than the U.S. median of $49,610. That is $1,770 (4%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Illinois metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?
Among the 4 Illinois metro areas with published BLS data, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has the highest median at $51,380 a year. St. Louis has the lowest, at $47,160.
How many dental lab technicians work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 2,030 dental lab technicians were employed in Illinois in May 2025. That is 0.33 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.50, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in Illinois?
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 5% over 2024–2034, from 1,790 to 1,700 jobs. That works out to about 200 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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Dental Lab Technician salary by state
- Dental Lab Technician salary in California
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Texas
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Florida
- Dental Lab Technician salary in New York
- 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, Illinois long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Laboratory Technicians