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Dental Laboratory Technicians in Kentucky

Dental Laboratory Technicians in Kentucky

Want to work as a Dental Laboratory Technicians in Kentucky? Here’s what the data says. Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances. Excludes “Dental Assistants” (31-9091).

What do Dental Laboratory Technicians Make in Kentucky?

For dental laboratory technicians working in Kentucky, the typical annual salary is $41,760 per year (or roughly $20.08/hour).Annual wages span from $35,250 at the 10th percentile to $55,460 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $35,250 $16.95
25th percentile $38,140 $18.34
Median (50th) $41,760 $20.08
75th percentile $48,450 $23.30
90th percentile $55,460 $26.66
Salary ranges for Dental Laboratory Technicians in Kentucky

The job concentration index in Kentucky nationwide is 0.66, indicating fewer dental laboratory technicians per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, dental laboratory technicians earn a median of $25,417 per year ($12.22/hour), above the Kentucky median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 112,055 dental laboratory technicians in the U.S.. In Kentucky alone, around 290 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 440 dental laboratory technicians.

Forecasted number of jobs for Dental Laboratory Technicians

Top Kentucky Metros for Dental Laboratory Technicians

The largest metro-area employers of dental laboratory technicians in Kentucky.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 190 $38,150
Lexington-Fayette, KY 50 $53,750

Top States for Dental Laboratory Technicians Employment

The table below shows the states where the most dental laboratory technicians work.

State Number Employed
California 3,950
Florida 2,170
New York 2,130
Texas 1,690
Illinois 1,440
Georgia 1,380
Michigan 1,290
Utah 1,170
Ohio 1,110
Pennsylvania 1,100
Alabama 1,090
Virginia 1,020
Missouri 1,000
New Jersey 940
Arizona 930
North Carolina 860
Washington 830
Wisconsin 810
Tennessee 770
Indiana 730

Highest-Paying States for Dental Laboratory Technicians

The highest-paying states for dental laboratory technicians.

State Annual Median Salary
Colorado $63,170
Massachusetts $59,270
Alaska $59,150
Rhode Island $57,520
Minnesota $57,180
Florida $56,910
North Dakota $56,540
Washington $56,360
Vermont $56,160
Maine $56,020

Skills

The most important dental laboratory technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Reading Comprehension  3.4 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.2 / 5
0
5
Time Management  3.2 / 5
0
5
Operations Monitoring  3.1 / 5
0
5
Judgment and Decision Making  3.1 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  3.0 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Design  3.8 / 5
0
5
Administration and Management  3.8 / 5
0
5
English Language  3.6 / 5
0
5
Medicine and Dentistry  3.6 / 5
0
5
Production and Processing  3.5 / 5
0
5
Education and Training  3.5 / 5
0
5

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for dental laboratory technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Near Vision  4.0 / 5
0
5
Finger Dexterity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Control Precision  3.9 / 5
0
5
Arm-Hand Steadiness  3.9 / 5
0
5
Visualization  3.6 / 5
0
5
Deductive Reasoning  3.4 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

  • Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.
  • Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.
  • Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.
  • Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.
  • Remove excess metal or porcelain and polish surfaces of prostheses or frameworks, using polishing machines.
  • Train or supervise other dental technicians or dental laboratory bench workers.
  • Melt metals or mix plaster, porcelain, or acrylic pastes and pour materials into molds or over frameworks to form dental prostheses or apparatuses.
  • Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.
  • Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.
  • Apply porcelain paste or wax over prosthesis frameworks or setups, using brushes and spatulas.
  • Build and shape wax teeth, using small hand instruments and information from observations or dentists' specifications.
  • Load newly constructed teeth into porcelain furnaces to bake the porcelain onto the metal framework.

Work Activities

  • Thinking Creatively
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Processing Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Intuit QuickBooks

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Dental Support Services

Related occupations to dental laboratory technicians include:

Also Known As

Bridge Technician, CAD Tech (Computer-Aided Design Technician), CAM Tech (Computer-Aided Manufacturing Technician), Ceramist, Certified Dental Technologist (CDT), Crown Ceramist, Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech), Crown and Bridge Technician (Crown and Bridge Tech), Dental Appliance Fixer, Dental Appliance Mechanic, Dental Appliance Repairer, Dental Ceramist, Dental Ceramist Assistant, Dental Equipment Installer and Servicer, Dental Instrument Maker.

References

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