Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Lab Technician Salary in Louisiana

The median dental lab technician earns $38,490 a year in Louisiana ($18.50 an hour), with the middle half earning between $29,960 and $54,430.[1]

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

25th percentile

$29,960

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$38,490

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$54,430

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $38,490 per year or $18.50/hr at the median. Louisiana runs about 22% lower than the national median.

The full pay range in Louisiana

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 Louisiana earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]

Dental Lab Technician wages, Louisiana vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileLouisiana hourlyLouisiana annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$11.46$23,850$17.62$36,660
25th percentile$14.41$29,960$19.43$40,420
Median$18.50$38,490$23.85$49,610
75th percentile$26.17$54,430$29.84$62,070
90th percentile$34.29$71,320$36.99$76,940
Mean (average)$21.33$44,360$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 Louisiana

Employed

330

About 1.0% of all U.S. dental lab technicians (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.17

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

0.78

1.00 = U.S. average; Louisiana is less 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 Louisiana compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $38,490 in Louisiana vs. $49,610 nationally, $11,120 (22%) lower.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $23,850 vs. $36,660, 35% lower.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $71,320 vs. $76,940, 7% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 0.9% in Louisiana 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 Louisiana

All 3 Louisiana metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Lab Technician pay by Louisiana metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
New Orleans-Metairie$54,170$43,050–$71,99050
Baton Rouge$40,060$38,250–$62,18040
Shreveport-Bossier City$37,450$29,120–$60,860110

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 Louisiana

Louisiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to grow 0.9% over 2024–2034, from 340 to 350 jobs, with about 40 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 Louisiana

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

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Browse open dental lab technician roles in Louisiana, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dental Lab Technician salary in Louisiana: FAQ

How much do dental lab technicians make in Louisiana?

The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in Louisiana was $38,490 ($18.50 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $29,960 and $54,430. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $23,850 and the top 10% earned over $71,320.

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

No. The Louisiana median of $38,490 is lower than the U.S. median of $49,610. That is $11,120 (22%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which Louisiana metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?

Among the 3 Louisiana metro areas with published BLS data, New Orleans-Metairie has the highest median at $54,170 a year. Shreveport-Bossier City has the lowest, at $37,450.

How many dental lab technicians work in Louisiana?

BLS estimates 330 dental lab technicians were employed in Louisiana in May 2025. That is 0.17 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.78, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in Louisiana?

Louisiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to grow 0.9% over 2024–2034, from 340 to 350 jobs. That works out to about 40 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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