Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Lab Technician Salary in Tennessee
The median dental lab technician earns $48,880 a year in Tennessee ($23.50 an hour), with the middle half earning between $40,470 and $62,540.[1]
25th percentile
$40,470
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$48,880
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$62,540
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $48,880 per year or $23.50/hr at the median. Tennessee runs about 1% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Tennessee
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 Tennessee earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Tennessee hourly | Tennessee annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.56 | $36,520 | $17.62 | $36,660 |
| 25th percentile | $19.46 | $40,470 | $19.43 | $40,420 |
| Median | $23.50 | $48,880 | $23.85 | $49,610 |
| 75th percentile | $30.07 | $62,540 | $29.84 | $62,070 |
| 90th percentile | $37.99 | $79,020 | $36.99 | $76,940 |
| Mean (average) | $25.92 | $53,920 | $26.10 | $54,290 |
How many dental lab technicians work in Tennessee
610
0.18
0.84
How Tennessee compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $48,880 in Tennessee vs. $49,610 nationally, $730 (1%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $36,520 vs. $36,660, about the same.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $79,020 vs. $76,940, 3% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -9% in Tennessee vs. -4.5% nationally.
Dental Lab Technician pay by metro area in Tennessee
All 4 Tennessee metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $55,340 | $45,150–$63,770 | 50 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $51,050 | $44,150–$68,080 | 170 |
| Memphis | $50,590 | $37,780–$65,110 | 130 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $48,880 | $46,850–$59,120 | 70 |
Job outlook for dental lab technicians in Tennessee
Tennessee's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 9% over 2024–2034, from 740 to 670 jobs, with about 80 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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee: FAQ
How much do dental lab technicians make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for dental lab technicians in Tennessee was $48,880 ($23.50 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $40,470 and $62,540. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,520 and the top 10% earned over $79,020.
Do dental lab technicians in Tennessee earn more than the national median?
No. The Tennessee median of $48,880 is lower than the U.S. median of $49,610. That is $730 (1%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Tennessee metro area pays dental lab technicians the most?
Among the 4 Tennessee metro areas with published BLS data, Knoxville has the highest median at $55,340 a year. Kingsport-Bristol has the lowest, at $48,880.
How many dental lab technicians work in Tennessee?
BLS estimates 610 dental lab technicians were employed in Tennessee in May 2025. That is 0.18 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.84, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental lab technicians growing in Tennessee?
Tennessee's official long-term projections expect employment of dental lab technicians to change 9% over 2024–2034, from 740 to 670 jobs. That works out to about 80 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 Illinois
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Pennsylvania
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Ohio
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Georgia
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, Tennessee long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Laboratory Technicians