In general, earnings of self-employed technicians exceed those of salaried workers. Technicians in large laboratories tend to specialize in a few procedures, and therefore tend to be paid a lower wage than those employed in small laboratories who perform a variety of tasks. Most jobs were in commercial dental laboratories, which usually are small, privately owned businesses with fewer than five employees. Some dental laboratory technicians worked in dentists' offices. Others worked for hospitals providing dental services, including Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Some technicians work in dental laboratories in their homes, in addition to their regular job.
Approximately 1 technician in 7 is self-employed, a higher proportion than in most other occupations. Job opportunities for dental laboratory technicians should be favorable despite very slow growth in the occupation. Employers have difficulty filling trainee positions, probably because of relatively low entry-level salaries and lack of familiarity with the occupation. Also, experienced technicians who have built up a favorable reputation with dentists should have good opportunities for establishing laboratories of their own. Although job opportunities are favorable, employment of dental laboratory technicians is expected to grow more slowly than average through the year 2006, due to changes in dental care.