Model technician vs dental laboratory technician

The differences between model technicians and dental laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a model technician, becoming a dental laboratory technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a model technician has an average salary of $65,416, which is higher than the $55,271 average annual salary of a dental laboratory technician.

The top three skills for a model technician include CAD, revit and shop drawings. The most important skills for a dental laboratory technician are dentures, patients, and prosthetics.

Model technician vs dental laboratory technician overview

	Model Technician	Dental Laboratory Technician
Yearly salary	$65,416	$55,271
Hourly rate	$31.45	$26.57
Growth rate	-5%	2%
Number of jobs	6,577	60,024
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Associate Degree, 39%
Average age	45	44
Years of experience	4	2

Model technician vs dental laboratory technician salary

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

	Model Technician	Dental Laboratory Technician
Average salary	$65,416	$55,271
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $114,000	Between $35,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City	Houston, TX	Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state	Michigan	Vermont
Best paying company	IRI	DCS
Best paying industry	Technology	Professional

Differences between model technician and dental laboratory technician education

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

	Model Technician	Dental Laboratory Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Associate Degree, 39%
Most common major	Business	Dental Assisting
Most common college	-	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Model technician vs dental laboratory technician demographics

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

	Model Technician	Dental Laboratory Technician
Average age	45	44
Gender ratio	Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1%	Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 9.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	3%	5%

Differences between model technician and dental laboratory technician duties and responsibilities

Model technician example responsibilities.

Prepare diagnostic models of a patient's mouth and teeth from impressions with stone.
Read and follow doctor's instructions and requests on prescriptions for teeth being reset.
Coordinate international sample/model making for costume jewelry
Wax margins, opaque PFM, s and zirconium copings and create porcelain margins.

Dental laboratory technician example responsibilities.

Manage CAD/CAM system for the fabrication of all-ceramic dental restorations.
Manage operations of dental laboratory as lead technician, working directly with patients and dentists in an in-house dental laboratory.
Experience with articulators, grinders, and polishers.
Used wax, plastic models, plaster models, articulators, grinders and polishers.
Perform basic nursing care, emergency and CPR procedures, take and record vital signs; collect specimens.
Used professional customize creativity, and excellent manual dexterity.

Model technician vs dental laboratory technician skills

Common model technician skills

CAD, 33%
Revit, 32%
Shop Drawings, 12%
Dental Impressions, 9%
Dentures, 8%
Base Models, 3%

Common dental laboratory technician skills

Dentures, 23%
Patients, 17%
Prosthetics, 12%
Dexterity, 9%
Cad Cam, 5%
Infection Control, 4%

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Model Technician
Model Technician vs Dental Laboratory Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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