Medical, Dental, and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Quick Stats

Dental laboratory technicians

• 2004 employment: 50,000
• 2014 projected employment: 54,000
• Change — numeric: 4,000; percent: 7.6%
• 2004 median annual earnings: $31,060; earnings group: high
• 2004 self-employed: 10.0%
• 2004 part-time employment: low
• 2004 unemployment: low
• Typical education and training: Long-term on-the-job training
• Educational attainment — high school: 43.9%; some college: 41.2%; bachelor's degree: 14.9%

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians

• 2004 employment: 25,000
• 2014 projected employment: 27,000
• Change — numeric: 2,000; percent: 7.8%
• 2004 median annual earnings: $23,710; earnings group: low
• 2004 self-employed: 0.0%
• 2004 part-time employment: low
• 2004 unemployment: low
• Typical education and training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
• Educational attainment — high school: 43.9%; some college: 41.2%; bachelor's degree: 14.9%

Medical appliance technicians

• 2004 employment: 11,000
• 2014 projected employment: 13,000
• Change — numeric: 2,000; percent: 13.3%
• 2004 median annual earnings: $27,820; earnings group: low
• 2004 self-employed: 9.7%
• 2004 part-time employment: low
• 2004 unemployment: low
• Typical education and training: Long-term on-the-job training
• Educational attainment — high school: 43.9%; some college: 41.2%; bachelor's degree: 14.9%

source: Employment Matrix; about this section