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Dental Laboratory Technicians

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 210 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Least exposedband 1 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with a small part of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

AI can help with or automate about 6% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Read prescriptions or specifications and examine models or impressions to determine the design of dental products to be constructed.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Test appliances for conformance to specifications and accuracy of occlusion, using articulators and micrometers.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Fabricate, alter, or repair dental devices, such as dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays, or appliances for straightening teeth.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Prepare metal surfaces for bonding with porcelain to create artificial teeth, using small hand tools.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Rebuild or replace linings, wire sections, or missing teeth to repair dentures.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Place tooth models on an apparatus that mimics bite and movement of patient's jaw to evaluate functionality of model.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay46 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$49,618 vs your $53,660 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Visual Color Discrimination
    • Oral Expression

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay58 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$53,272 vs your $53,660 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Administration and Management
    • Production and Processing
    • Near Vision
    • Control Precision
    • Visualization

    New skills to build

    • Extent Flexibility
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Static Strength
    • Rate Control
    • Trunk Strength
  • Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay31 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$48,321 vs your $53,660 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Near Vision
    • Production and Processing
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Control Precision

    New skills to build

    • Extent Flexibility
    • Response Orientation
    • Equipment Maintenance
  • Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

    Similar work
    +5% pay112 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 5% more—$56,333 vs your $53,660 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Visualization
    • Control Precision
    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Mechanical

    New skills to build

    • Static Strength
    • Mathematics
    • Trunk Strength
  • Furniture Finishers

    Similar work
    slightly less pay100 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays slightly less—$49,439 vs your $53,660 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus short-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Visualization
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Control Precision
    • Finger Dexterity

    New skills to build

    • Dynamic Strength
    • Stamina
    • Static Strength
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Trunk Strength
  • Surgical Technologists

    Somewhat similar work
    +52% pay437 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 52% more—$81,776 vs your $53,660 here.

    What the move takes

    A step up—usually requires a postsecondary nondegree award.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Near Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • English Language
    • Oral Comprehension

    New skills to build

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Psychology
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Static Strength
    • Speech Recognition