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Finishing technician vs dental laboratory worker

The differences between finishing technicians and dental laboratory workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a finishing technician and a dental laboratory worker. Additionally, a dental laboratory worker has an average salary of $72,997, which is higher than the $35,050 average annual salary of a finishing technician.

The top three skills for a finishing technician include hand tools, grinders and pallets. The most important skills for a dental laboratory worker are dentures, mouth guards, and .

Finishing technician vs dental laboratory worker overview

Finishing TechnicianDental Laboratory Worker
Yearly salary$35,050$72,997
Hourly rate$16.85$35.09
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs43,97279,089
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Finishing technician vs dental laboratory worker salary

Finishing technicians and dental laboratory workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Finishing TechnicianDental Laboratory Worker
Average salary$35,050$72,997
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $43,000Between $52,000 And $101,000
Highest paying CityBaton Rouge, LA-
Highest paying stateMontana-
Best paying companyPromega-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between finishing technician and dental laboratory worker education

There are a few differences between a finishing technician and a dental laboratory worker in terms of educational background:

Finishing TechnicianDental Laboratory Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common majorBusinessDental Assisting
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Finishing technician vs dental laboratory worker demographics

Here are the differences between finishing technicians' and dental laboratory workers' demographics:

Finishing TechnicianDental Laboratory Worker
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 68.4% Female, 31.6%Male, 54.5% Female, 45.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 8.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 9.4% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between finishing technician and dental laboratory worker duties and responsibilities

Finishing technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the receipt and tracking of control substances as well as the DEA biennial inspection.
  • Know methods and types of chemical evaporation: reactive sputtering, e-beam coating, coating for longer wavelengths.
  • De-Package lenses using proper usage of manual dexterity and safety precautions.
  • Touch up the pcb after tape and mask are removed from the pcb.
  • Operate and maintain RF/DC MRC sputtering equipment.
  • Label all parts for tracking per ISO requirements.
  • Show more

Dental laboratory worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage operations of dental laboratory as lead technician, working directly with patients and dentists in an in-house dental laboratory.
  • Assume full accountability in waxing up and fabricating PFM crowns, color match, stain, glaze and finish PFM crowns.
  • Manage operations of dental laboratory as lead technician, working directly with patients and dentists in an in-house dental laboratory.
  • Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and operate resuscitation equipment.

Finishing technician vs dental laboratory worker skills

Common finishing technician skills
  • Hand Tools, 22%
  • Grinders, 10%
  • Pallets, 7%
  • Dexterity, 6%
  • Safety Procedures, 6%
  • ISO, 4%
Common dental laboratory worker skills
  • Dentures, 79%
  • Mouth Guards, 21%

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