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The differences between dental technicians and technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a dental technician and a technician. Additionally, a dental technician has an average salary of $68,232, which is higher than the $38,045 average annual salary of a technician.
The top three skills for a dental technician include patients, dentures and dental care. The most important skills for a technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Dental Technician | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $68,232 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $32.80 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 45,536 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 28% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Dental Technicians manufacture dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures in accordance with the dentist's specifications. They are also responsible for replacing, repairing, or modifying full or partial dentures.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Dental technicians and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Technician | Technician | |
| Average salary | $68,232 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $115,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Columbia, MD | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Private Practice | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a dental technician and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Dental Technician | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 28% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | - |
Here are the differences between dental technicians' and technicians' demographics:
| Dental Technician | Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.6% Female, 48.4% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 2% |