Laboratory Technician Jobs
Training and Education Jobs and Salaries
Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians hold about 95,000 jobs. About 55 percent of salaried jobs are in medical equipment and supply manufacturing laboratories, which usually are small, privately owned businesses with fewer than five employees however, some laboratories are large and a few employ more than 1,000 workers. Dental laboratory technicians hold about 53,000 jobs, opthalmic laboratory technicians hold around 29,000 jobs and medical appliance technicians hold close to 12,000 jobs. In addition to manufacturing laboratories, many medical appliance technicians work in health and personal care stores, while others work in public and private hospitals, professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers, or consumer goods rental centers and some are self-employed.
In addition to manufacturing laboratories, many dental laboratory technicians worked in offices of dentists. Some dental laboratory technicians open their own offices. Close to a third of ophthalmic laboratory technician jobs are in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing laboratories. Another third of jobs are in health and personal care stores, such as optical goods stores that manufacture and sell prescription glasses and contact lenses. Some jobs are in offices of optometrists or ophthalmologists, while others worked at professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers. A few ophthalmic laboratory technicians work in commercial and service industry machine manufacturing firms that produce lenses for other optical instruments, such as telescopes and binoculars.
Overall, slower-than-average growth is expected for employment of medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians however, job opportunities should be favorable because few people seek these positions. Overall employment for these occupations is expected to grow five percent from 2006 to 2016, slower than the average for all occupations. Medical appliance technicians will grow at nine percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, because of the increasing prevalence of the two leading causes of limb loss - diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, advances in technology may spur demand for prostheses that allow for greater movement.
Employment of dental laboratory technicians is expected to grow more slowly than average, at four percent. During the last few years, demand has arisen from an aging public that is growing increasingly interested in cosmetic prostheses. For example, many dental laboratories are filling orders for composite fillings that are the same shade of white as natural teeth to replace older, less attractive fillings however, job growth for dental laboratory technicians will be limited. The overall dental health of the population has improved because of fluoridation of drinking water and greater emphasis on preventive dental care, which has reduced the incidence of dental cavities. As a result, full dentures will be less common, as most people will need only a bridge or crown.
Ophthalmic laboratory technicians are expected to experience employment growth of seven percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demographic trends make it likely that many more Americans will need vision care in the years ahead. Not only will the population grow, but also the proportion of middle-aged and older adults is projected to increase rapidly. Middle age is a time when many people use corrective lenses for the first time, and elderly persons usually require more vision care than others. However, the increasing use of automated machinery will temper job growth for ophthalmic laboratory technicians.
Job opportunities for medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians should be favorable, despite expected slower-than-average growth. Few people seek these jobs, reflecting the relatively limited public awareness and low starting wages. In addition to openings from job growth, many job openings also will arise from the need to replace technicians who transfer to other occupations or who leave the labor force.
Median hourly earnings of wage and salary medical appliance technicians are close to $15.00. The middle fifty percent earn between $11.50 and $19.50 an hour. The lowest ten percent earn less than $9.00, and the highest ten percent earn more than $27.00 an hour. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary dental laboratory technicians are about $16.00. The middle fifty percent earn between $11.50 and $20.50 an hour. The lowest ten percent earn less than $9.50, and the highest ten percent earn more than $26.00 an hour. In the two industries that employ the most dental laboratory technicians, medical equipment and supplies manufacturing and offices of dentists, median hourly earnings are about $15.00 and $17.80, respectively.
Median hourly earnings of wage and salary ophthalmic laboratory technicians are close to $12.50. The middle fifty percent earn between $10.00 and $16.00 an hour. The lowest ten percent earn less than $8.50, and the highest ten percent earn more than $20.00 an hour. Median hourly earnings are close to $12.00 in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing and $11.50 in health and personal care stores, the two industries that employ the most ophthalmic laboratory technicians. Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians manufacture and work with the same devices that are used by dispensing opticians and orthotists and prosthetists. Other occupations that work with or manufacture goods using similar tools and skills are precision instrument and equipment repairers and textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations.