Dental Laboratory Technician salary in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Dental Laboratory Technicians in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn a median of $48,810 a year ($23.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,660 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $49,610. Pay here is 2% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $49,700. There are 0.23 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $51,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,790 | $14.32 |
| 25th percentile | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| Median | $48,810 | $23.47 |
| 75th percentile | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,660 | $34.93 |
| Average (mean) | $51,350 | $24.69 |
Half of dental laboratory technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,067.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,033.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,877.31 |
| Weekly | $938.65 |
| Hourly | $23.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,810 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dental Laboratory Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $58,720 | 280 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $51,110 | 100 |
| Asheville, NC | $50,440 | 70 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $50,230 | 40 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $48,550 | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $47,080 | 320 |
| Wilmington, NC | $38,990 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for dental laboratory technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $72,800 |
| North Dakota | $67,580 |
| Maine | $64,020 |
| Colorado | $61,220 |
| New Hampshire | $60,610 |
| Florida | $59,790 |
| Nebraska | $58,590 |
| Kansas | $56,790 |
| Washington | $56,400 |
| Minnesota | $56,090 |
See Dental Laboratory Technician pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | $49,200 | $23.66 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | $33,870 | $16.28 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | $36,680 | $17.64 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $61,140 | $29.39 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9081. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental laboratory technician make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area is $48,810 a year, or $23.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area earn at least $72,660 a year. The top 25% earn $59,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,790 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $37,450 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
About 40 dental laboratory technicians are employed in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.