Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians in the United States earn a median salary of $47,060 per year — about $23 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 67K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -1%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is a hybrid of physical craftsmanship and digital design, with AI and automation already driving a projected decline in dental technician roles. While the physical assembly, polishing, and repair of medical devices require manual dexterity, the 'knowledge' phase of the job—interpreting prescriptions and designing appliances—is rapidly shifting toward AI-integrated CAD/CAM software and 3D printing.
Education & Requirements
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