Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Lab Technician Salary in Michigan

The median dental lab technician earns $49,570 a year in Michigan ($23.83 an hour), with the middle half earning between $44,690 and $62,100.[1]

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

25th percentile

$44,690

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$49,570

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$62,100

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $49,570 per year or $23.83/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.

The full pay range in Michigan

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

Dental Lab Technician wages, Michigan vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMichigan hourlyMichigan annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$18.06$37,560$17.62$36,660
25th percentile$21.49$44,690$19.43$40,420
Median$23.83$49,570$23.85$49,610
75th percentile$29.86$62,100$29.84$62,070
90th percentile$37.22$77,420$36.99$76,940
Mean (average)$26.18$54,450$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 Michigan

Employed

1,180

About 3.4% of all U.S. dental lab technicians (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.27

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

1.22

1.00 = U.S. average; Michigan 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 Michigan compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $49,570 in Michigan vs. $49,610 nationally, about the same.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $37,560 vs. $36,660, 2% higher.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $77,420 vs. $76,940, about the same.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): -4.3% in Michigan 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 Michigan

All 4 Michigan metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Lab Technician pay by Michigan metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Ann Arbor$61,370$45,760–$71,81030
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn$55,170$46,680–$66,290490
Lansing-East Lansing$47,770$38,670–$59,45040
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood$45,220$38,640–$50,160170

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 Michigan

Michigan's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 4.3% over 2024–2034, from 1,320 to 1,260 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 Michigan

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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Dental Lab Technician salary in Michigan: FAQ

How much do dental lab technicians make in Michigan?

The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in Michigan was $49,570 ($23.83 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $44,690 and $62,100. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $37,560 and the top 10% earned over $77,420.

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

About the same. The Michigan median of $49,570 is about the same as the U.S. median of $49,610. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which Michigan metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?

Among the 4 Michigan metro areas with published BLS data, Ann Arbor has the highest median at $61,370 a year. Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood has the lowest, at $45,220.

How many dental lab technicians work in Michigan?

BLS estimates 1,180 dental lab technicians were employed in Michigan in May 2025. That is 0.27 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.22, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in Michigan?

Michigan's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 4.3% over 2024–2034, from 1,320 to 1,260 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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