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The differences between orthodontic laboratory technicians and laboratory assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an orthodontic laboratory technician and a laboratory assistant. Additionally, a laboratory assistant has an average salary of $34,168, 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 laboratory assistant are patients, phlebotomy, and customer service.
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $33,152 | $34,168 |
| Hourly rate | $15.94 | $16.43 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 41,955 | 50,853 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Orthodontic laboratory technicians and laboratory assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average salary | $33,152 | $34,168 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $47,000 | Between $26,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | UST Global |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic laboratory technician and a laboratory assistant in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | General Studies | Biology |
| Most common college | University of Maryland - College Park | New York University |
Here are the differences between orthodontic laboratory technicians' and laboratory assistants' demographics:
| Orthodontic Laboratory Technician | Laboratory Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6% | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% |
| 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, 9.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 13.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |