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The differences between orthodontic laboratory technicians and dental laboratory technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an orthodontic laboratory technician, becoming a dental laboratory technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a dental laboratory technician has an average salary of $55,271, which is higher than the $33,152 average annual salary of an orthodontic laboratory technician.
The top three skills for an orthodontic laboratory technician include study models, splints and front desk. The most important skills for a dental laboratory technician are dentures, patients, and prosthetics.
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Dental Laboratory Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $33,152 | $55,271 |
| Hourly rate | $15.94 | $26.57 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 41,955 | 60,024 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
Orthodontic laboratory technicians and dental laboratory technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Dental Laboratory Technician | |
| Average salary | $33,152 | $55,271 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $47,000 | Between $35,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Trenton, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | Vermont |
| Best paying company | - | DCS |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic laboratory technician and a dental laboratory technician in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Dental Laboratory Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Associate Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | General Studies | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between orthodontic laboratory technicians' and dental laboratory technicians' demographics:
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Dental Laboratory Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6% | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 11.4% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 8% | 5% |