Dental Tech Salary in the United States

How much does a Dental Tech make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dental Tech in the United States is $40,699 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Dental Tech's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,766
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,261 to $44,922
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,220
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View as table View as graph 25% $36,261 10% $32,220 90% $48,766 75% $44,922 $40,699 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Dental Tech Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $44,922 $3,744 $864 $22
Average $40,699 $3,392 $783 $20
25th Percentile $36,261 $3,022 $697 $17
Check out Dental Tech Job Openings in the United States
Dental Lab Tech

North American Dental Group - Youngstown, OH

Dental lab tech

I & Y Dental Studio Inc - Solon, OH

CAD CAM Dental Lab Tech

Aesthetic Oral Arts Dental Laboratory - LIVINGSTON, MT

Dental Hygienist

Korsmo Family Dentistry, P.C. - GRAND FORKS, ND

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Key Factors That Influence Dental Tech Salaries

A Dental Tech's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Dental Tech Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Dental Tech's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $40,884
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,759
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $43,643
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,845
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,980
Levels Salary
Entry Level Dental Tech$40,884
Intermediate Level Dental Tech$41,759
Senior Level Dental Tech$43,643
Specialist Level Dental Tech$43,845
Expert Level Dental Tech$43,980
$40,884 0 yr
$41,759 < 2 yrs
$43,643 2-4 yrs
$43,845 5-8 yrs
$43,980 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Dental Teches

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $51,334
  • San Francisco: $50,772
  • Oakland: $49,702

What Skills Can Increase a Dental Tech's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 8.41% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 6.09% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • Front Office (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): The front office represents the customer-facing division of a firm. For example, customer service, sales, and industry experts who provide advisory services are considered part of a firm's front office operations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 8.41%
CPR 6.09%
Front Office 2.38%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Dental Tech's salary.
  • Clinical Support: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Clinical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Support
$44,362
9%
Clinical Care
$43,141
6%
Leadership
$42,734
5%
Presentation
$41,920
3%
Collaboration
$41,513
2%
HIPAA
$41,513
2%
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Dental Tech Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Dental Tech roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Dental Tech positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Dental Tech as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Dental Tech

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$48,839$23.020%

How Education impacts a Dental Tech's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Dental Teches enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Dental Tech with a Associate's Degree is between $45,040 and $47,788).

Dental Tech Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Dental Tech
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 78.4%
Associates 14.5%
Bachelors 5.9%
Masters 0.4%
Doctorate 0.2%
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Dental Tech Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Dental Tech's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Dental Tech

Salaries for a Dental Tech can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,615 in 2023 to around $44,396 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Dental Tech salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Dental Tech Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,615
2024
$44,579
2025
$44,396
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,615
2024 $44,579
2025 $44,396
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Dental Tech

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Dental Tech

Here are companies hiring for Dental Tech and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Dental Tech Job

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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