Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Lab Technician Salary in South Carolina

The median dental lab technician earns $37,170 a year in South Carolina ($17.87 an hour), with the middle half earning between $31,230 and $55,080.[1]

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

25th percentile

$31,230

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$37,170

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$55,080

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $37,170 per year or $17.87/hr at the median. South Carolina runs about 25% lower than the national median.

The full pay range in South Carolina

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

Dental Lab Technician wages, South Carolina vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileSouth Carolina hourlySouth Carolina annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$14.13$29,380$17.62$36,660
25th percentile$15.01$31,230$19.43$40,420
Median$17.87$37,170$23.85$49,610
75th percentile$26.48$55,080$29.84$62,070
90th percentile$29.80$61,980$36.99$76,940
Mean (average)$20.97$43,610$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 South Carolina

Employed

260

About 0.8% of all U.S. dental lab technicians (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.11

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

0.51

1.00 = U.S. average; South Carolina 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 South Carolina compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $37,170 in South Carolina vs. $49,610 nationally, $12,440 (25%) lower.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $29,380 vs. $36,660, 20% lower.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $61,980 vs. $76,940, 19% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): -4.1% in South Carolina 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 South Carolina

All 2 South Carolina metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Lab Technician pay by South Carolina metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Augusta-Richmond County$53,930$46,560–$67,20080
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia$47,080$39,880–$62,670320

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 South Carolina

South Carolina's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 4.1% over 2024–2034, from 340 to 330 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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dental Lab Technician salary in South Carolina: FAQ

How much do dental lab technicians make in South Carolina?

The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in South Carolina was $37,170 ($17.87 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $31,230 and $55,080. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $29,380 and the top 10% earned over $61,980.

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

No. The South Carolina median of $37,170 is lower than the U.S. median of $49,610. That is $12,440 (25%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which South Carolina metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?

Among the 2 South Carolina metro areas with published BLS data, Augusta-Richmond County has the highest median at $53,930 a year. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has the lowest, at $47,080.

How many dental lab technicians work in South Carolina?

BLS estimates 260 dental lab technicians were employed in South Carolina in May 2025. That is 0.11 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.51, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in South Carolina?

South Carolina's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 4.1% over 2024–2034, from 340 to 330 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%.

Hiring in South Carolina?

Fill dental lab technician roles across every location.

See how it works