Prevailing Wage for Dental Laboratory Technicians
Dental Laboratory Technicians, also known as Dental Technicians or Ceramists, are covered by DOL prevailing wage requirements when sponsored for H-1B, E-3, or green card status. DOL sets four experience-based wage levels for this occupation, and the floor varies significantly by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level technicians new to a dental lab setting, typically with limited hands-on experience constructing or repairing prosthetics. Work is closely supervised, with tasks assigned step by step and minimal independent judgment expected.
Level 2 applies to qualified technicians with moderate experience handling standard fabrication tasks with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Dental Laboratory Technicians, reflecting practitioners who follow established protocols but can troubleshoot routine issues.
Level 3 covers experienced technicians who handle complex cases, guide junior staff, and work with limited supervision. These professionals typically specialize in crown and bridge work, ceramics, or full denture fabrication and apply independent judgment across most assignments.
Level 4 applies to fully competent senior technicians or lead dental lab professionals who manage workflows, set quality standards, and handle the most technically demanding cases. Employers filing at this level typically document supervisory scope or specialty expertise.
Prevailing Wage for Dental Laboratory Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Dental Laboratory Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how labs title your role
Dental labs often post openings as Denture Technician or Dental Ceramist rather than Dental Laboratory Technician. If your LCA uses a title tied to a different SOC code, the wage floor applied may not match the SOC 51-9081 prevailing wage for your actual duties.
Expect Level 2 filings at most commercial labs
Most mid-size dental labs sponsor at Level 2 because technicians there handle full fabrication workflows with moderate independence. If you are hired as a specialist in crown and bridge or implant prosthetics, confirm your employer is not filing at Level 1 to reduce costs.
Compare metro wages before accepting a relocation
Portland, ME and Colorado Springs, CO pay significantly above the national floor, while markets like San Juan, PR and Auburn, AL sit well below it. The LCA wage is tied to the worksite address, so lab location directly determines your minimum protected wage.
Search Migrate Mate for labs with sponsorship history
Dental lab sponsorship is concentrated among larger commercial labs and hospital-affiliated dental centers. Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Dental Laboratory Technicians, helping you focus applications on labs that have already navigated the process.
Jobs for Dental Laboratory Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Dental Laboratory TechniciansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9081.00 alongside Dental Laboratory Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Ceramist Prevailing Wage
Ceramist Prevailing Wage
Ceramist positions fall under SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Crown and Bridge Dental Laboratory Technician (Crown and Bridge Dental Lab Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Dental Ceramist Prevailing Wage
Dental Ceramist Prevailing Wage
Dental Ceramist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Dental Laboratory Technician (Dental Lab Tech) positions fall under SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Dental Technician (Dental Tech) Prevailing Wage
Dental Technician (Dental Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dental Technician (Dental Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Denture Technician (Denture Tech) Prevailing Wage
Denture Technician (Denture Tech) Prevailing Wage
Denture Technician (Denture Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Metal Finisher Prevailing Wage
Metal Finisher Prevailing Wage
Metal Finisher positions fall under SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Orthodontic Laboratory Technician (Ortho Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
Orthodontic Laboratory Technician (Ortho Lab Tech) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Orthodontic Laboratory Technician (Ortho Lab Tech) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Porcelain Technician (Porcelain Tech) Prevailing Wage
Porcelain Technician (Porcelain Tech) Prevailing Wage
Porcelain Technician (Porcelain Tech) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Waxer Prevailing Wage
Waxer Prevailing Wage
Waxer positions fall under SOC 51-9081.00 (Dental Laboratory Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Dental Laboratory Technicians?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 51-9081, OFLC assigns four wage levels based on experience and complexity. The resulting figures represent the minimum an employer must pay a sponsored technician in a given metropolitan area or county.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers supervised entry-level work; Level 2 reflects qualified technicians handling standard fabrication independently; Level 3 applies to experienced specialists who guide others; Level 4 covers senior or lead roles with full independence and supervisory responsibility. Your level should match your actual job duties and oversight structure, not just your years of experience. Review the job description against DOL's level definitions, and check that your offer meets or exceeds the corresponding OFLC wage for your worksite.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role vary so much between cities?
OFLC bases prevailing wages on regional OES survey data, which reflects local labor market conditions. A dental lab in Portland, ME operates in a higher-wage market than one in Auburn, AL, so the floors differ substantially. Critically, the wage on the LCA must correspond to the actual worksite address. If you work at a lab in a high-cost metro, the employer cannot use a lower-cost metro's wage figure, even if the company is headquartered elsewhere.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An LCA cannot be certified by DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B petition without a certified LCA. For PERM-based green card cases, OFLC similarly requires the offered wage to meet or exceed the prevailing wage. If the offer is deficient, the employer must either raise the wage or the petition cannot proceed.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up prevailing wages by SOC code, wage level, and geographic area. Enter SOC 51-9081 and the worksite metro or county to see the current DOL floor for each experience level. You can also cross-reference against BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. For a broader view of which employers have sponsored Dental Laboratory Technicians in past years, Migrate Mate surfaces historical sponsorship counts by employer.
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