Working as a Dental Technician
Industry Overview
A career in dental technology is one that is continually evolving, with new products and services continuously being developed. The need for properly trained dental technicians is growing. The BC Dental Technologist Association reports that B.C currently has a shortage of skilled dental technicians, particularly in the area of crown and bridge, ceramics, and orthodontics.
Most jobs are located in the Lower Mainland/Southwest and Vancouver Island regions of the province.
Job Outlook in BC
Chart from WorkBC
WorkBC provides job openings in BC regions from 2022-2032:
| Region | Employment in 2022 |
Average Annual Employment Growth |
Expected Number of Job Openings |
| Vancouver Island / Coast | 100 | 1.0% | 60 |
| Lower Mainland / Southwest | 820 | 1.4% | 350 |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 100 | 1.0% | n/a |
You can learn more about working as a dental technician in BC from:
Types of Employers
Dental Technicians work in commercial dental laboratories. There are about 300 laboratories in British Columbia. Most are small 2 – 5 person laboratories. About 6 laboratories in BC have over 30 employees.
You may also be self-employed, operating your own dental laboratory.
Salary & Working Hours
The median annual salary for Dental Technicians working full-time in BC is $52,150. Your salary depends on experience, skill, area of expertise and employer.
Your salary tends to be higher if you work in a smaller lab performing a variety of tasks compared to a large lab with more specialized duties. You will generally have the highest income if you own and operate your own lab.
In addition to a salary, most full-time Dental Technicians receive health and dental benefits, paid sick days, and paid vacations.
Job Bank Canada provides hourly wages for Dental Technicians in BC regions:
Source: Job Bank Wage Report
Sources: WorkBC and Career Cruising
Working Hours
Full-time Dental Technicians usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Overtime may be necessary on occasion.
Part-time work is also common.