Dental Laboratory Technician salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Dental Laboratory Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $50,910 a year ($24.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,940 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $49,610. Pay here is 7% higher than the California statewide median of $47,410. There are 0.16 dental laboratory technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $56,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental laboratory technicians in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| 25th percentile | $45,790 | $22.01 |
| Median | $50,910 | $24.47 |
| 75th percentile | $65,050 | $31.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,940 | $36.99 |
| Average (mean) | $56,390 | $27.11 |
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 | $4,242.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,121.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,958.08 |
| Weekly | $979.04 |
| Hourly | $24.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $65,500 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,940 | 280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,510 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,110 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,020 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $50,690 | 230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $49,660 | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $47,410 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,460 | 2,710 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $46,300 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $45,010 | 40 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,870 | $29.74 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $61,300 | $29.47 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Medical Appliance Technician | $47,340 | $22.76 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $64,620 | $31.07 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for dental laboratory technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $50,910 a year, or $24.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental laboratory technicians make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of dental laboratory technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $76,940 a year. The top 25% earn $65,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental laboratory technicians in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,010 a year, and a quarter of dental laboratory technicians earn $45,790 or less.
How many dental laboratory technicians work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 250 dental laboratory technicians are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.