Newbie with a salary question

[Waldo]

Hi all!

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I read through a lot of posts here and find this forum really informative and awesome.
Now a little bit to my person.
I was trained as a dental lab tech in Germany. After 7 years I decided to switch careers to become a dentist.
While at the university I still worked as a dental tech part time and continued to do so when I worked as a dentist in Germany. I'm trained in every aspect. I worked years in the C&B department and I also have experience as a removable tech (also C&B combined cases as well telescopic crown cases). We always did everything from start to finish. The only thing I've never worked with are implant cases. I'm eager to learn that!
Almost 2 years ago we moved to the states and because of the licensing problem to become a dentist here I found a job as a removable tech.
Here is my question! What is the average salary as a removable tech? I'm making 40k near the DC area without any benefits except vacation days and sometimes I'll get a holiday paid.
Please let me know your thoughts!
Sorry for the long post!

Thanks!

 

[Luke]

Hi all!

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I read through a lot of posts here and find this forum really informative and awesome.
Now a little bit to my person.
I was trained as a dental lab tech in Germany. After 7 years I decided to switch careers to become a dentist.
While at the university I still worked as a dental tech part time and continued to do so when I worked as a dentist in Germany. I'm trained in every aspect. I worked years in the C&B department and I also have experience as a removable tech (also C&B combined cases as well telescopic crown cases). We always did everything from start to finish. The only thing I've never worked with are implant cases. I'm eager to learn that!
Almost 2 years ago we moved to the states and because of the licensing problem to become a dentist here I found a job as a removable tech.
Here is my question! What is the average salary as a removable tech? I'm making 40k near the DC area without any benefits except vacation days and sometimes I'll get a holiday paid.
Please let me know your thoughts!
Sorry for the long post!

Thanks!

Sounds about right. I work for a large company with similar pay, with benefits, same area. Far less experience though so I think you should be paid more. Of course I think I should make
More as well.. Haha

 

[2thm8kr]

Do your employers know you are a dentist?

 

[Car 54]

Do your employers know you are a dentist?

Good question, that has excellent value in itself.

 

[2thm8kr]

Good question, that has excellent value in itself.

To have someone on your staff that is a trained dentist is huge in the communication with your clients department.

 

[Mrs.galfriday]

Dentist. Trained removable technician, living in a high rent area...no benefits???? You need to move on and get paid better. I know at Micro Monster Lab their managers make over $100,000.00, and they are not Ph.d's. Not that I recommend Micro. But you could command way more money.

 

[CatamountRob]

I've no idea what is involved with getting your dental license here, but I'd be looking at the lab gig as something short term to get you by until you get your license here.

 

[Doris A]

Between 40 & 50K sounds about right for a highly experienced tech, but since you're a dentist too, you should be at the high end of that
scale or more IMHO!

 

[Waldo]

Thanks for so much input from all of you! I guess I will go on and look for more challenges. I don't like to stand still. Maybe another lab with a better position or I could open my own lab or I try to get my lisence as a dentist here (but this is very time consuming and very expensive).
And, yes, he knows that I'm a dentist!

 

[Luke]

Thanks for so much input from all of you! I guess I will go on and look for more challenges. I don't like to stand still. Maybe another lab with a better position or I could open my own lab or I try to get my lisence as a dentist here (but this is very time consuming and very expensive).
And, yes, he knows that I'm a dentist!

I'm 2 years into this process of becoming a dentist. It is a challenging task all around including financing. Curious the difference in licensing between America and Germany. Does Germany require undergraduate studies, dental admission tests, and board exams?

 

[RJS8669]

Pm me. My lab is in DC area and I'm always looking for good technicians. The salary you are receiving now - with no benefits - seems low for this area.

 

[Mrs.galfriday]

I have to add, I live in a very expensive area. And. Not all technicians get this pay. In fact, this information was from two techs that were acting MANAGERS. Also the humongous labs have a tier system. They have several grades of quality. The slave labor factor is real. Not so much in money but in quotas. That is why I get so ornery about quotas. People who are strictly price shopping might not realize they are supporting this style of production.

 

[cdtwade]

People who are price shopping do not care about what type of production they are supporting. Till they get something that doesn't fly, then they're angry.

 

[cdtwade]

Waldo I've worked with German CDT's and you are well qualified and grossly underpaid. Time to move on. Don't expect 100K though. Not this point.

 

[AJEL]

Waldo have you talked with any oral surgeons about training as a hybrid chair side technician, I would suggest this as you have chair side experience and removable experience.

 

[Jo Chen]

Get your US license. Many universities have one year programs just for your situation. Will cost you around 100k. You will have a much easier life.

 

[zero_zero]

Get your US license. Many universities have one year programs just for your situation. Will cost you around 100k. You will have a much easier life.

x2 ! Do that before other life commitments take over...

 

[Mrs.galfriday]

Waldo I've worked with German CDT's and you are well qualified and grossly underpaid. Time to move on. Don't expect 100K though. Not this point.

Yes. I feel it was somewhat irresponsible for me to post that without qualifiers. Even if factual for a small group. I doubt even half of the technicians make this much.

 

[cdtwade]

If they do it's typically their fault!!!

 

[user name]

100,000 is a nice round number...not too far in the past that would have been a huge income; in the near future, who knows. For now though, it seems very do-able. I have several friends...a tile layer, a trash collector, a tree trimmer, a plumber and an electrician. They all are earning (just over) 100k.

As nice as it would be to have more time off for fun, theres always the option that Ive chosen...work more.