What does a dental technician earn?
Dental technicians fabricate dental prostheses and orthodontic appliances in dental laboratories – from crowns, bridges and dentures to implant prosthetics, splints and aligners. They work with plaster models, wax, ceramics, metals and plastics, use milling and printing technology as well as CAD/CAM, and coordinate fit and aesthetics closely with dental practices. Dual apprenticeship training usually takes three and a half years. Gross pay depends on region, lab size, specialism (e.g. ceramics, implants, CAD/CAM) and experience. As a guide, qualified dental technicians in Germany in 2026 often earn about €3,000–€3,600 gross per month; during apprenticeship around €950–€1,250 is typical.
Salary by region (gross/month)
Guide figures as of 2026. The training column refers to the dual apprenticeship as a dental technician; qualified means working dental technicians in a dental laboratory. Actual pay depends on lab size, collective or company agreements, region, CAD/CAM and ceramics skills, specialism and experience, and is not a guarantee.
Further training options
Job and everyday work
Dental technicians mainly work in dental laboratories: they turn dental orders into precise, functional and aesthetic restorations – both analog and digital. Everyday work combines craft precision, materials knowledge and CAD/CAM with close coordination with practices, deadlines and quality control.
- Produce and adjust models, crowns, bridges, dentures or splints from impressions or scans according to the order.
- Create CAD designs, prepare milling and printing data, and fabricate pieces from ceramics, metal or plastics.
- Check fit, occlusion and aesthetics; coordinate corrections and try-ins with the dental practice.
- Use materials and equipment correctly – including hygiene, occupational safety and quality documentation.
- Plan jobs, meet delivery dates and help manage materials and stock in the lab.
- Coordinate with colleagues and master technicians; deepen specialist knowledge in CAD/CAM, ceramics or implant prosthetics.
