Dental Laboratory Technicians Salary
The median pay for a dental laboratory technicians in Idaho is $47,380/year ($22.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $50,469 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,136/month, about 35.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Idaho?
About dental laboratory technicians
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What this looks like in Idaho
Dental laboratory technicians pay in Idaho tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,136/month, which is 35.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level dental laboratory technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Laboratory Technicians salary by metro in Idaho
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Falls | $59K | +25% | 30 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $48K | +1% | 60 |
| Boise City | $47K | -1% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track dental laboratory technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental laboratory technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 35.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental laboratory technicians in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental laboratory technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,177/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dental laboratory technician a high-paying job in Idaho?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for dental laboratory technicians?
Idaho pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental laboratory technicians make in Idaho?
The median is $47,380 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,280, and experienced dental laboratory technicians can clear $101,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 35.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dental laboratory technicians salary go in Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental laboratory technicians salary is worth about $50,469 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dental laboratory technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.