How much does a denture maker make in Japan?
a year · about $16 an hour
The average denture maker in Japan makes $30,575 (¥4.59M) a year, monthly pay × 12 plus bonus, about the same as a typical worker in Japan (average, 2025, Japan's Basic Survey on Wage Structure).
What do they do?
They read dentists’ orders, shape plaster models, then handcraft or digitally design and adjust crowns, dentures, or braces. They check each piece, clean tools, and send it to a clinic; tight deadlines can stretch the day.
Did you know? In Japan, dental technicians may make more than teeth: some also craft epitheses, artificial body parts.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowWhat if you were…
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How it changes with age
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How it changes with company size
How do you become one?
After high school in Japan, complete at least two years at an approved dental technician school, college, or university and pass the national written and practical exam. Apply for the license; many start work around age 20, then train on the job.
Why does pay differ?
In Japan, a national license is required; years of practice and specialist skills, such as digital design or implants, can affect pay, though extra certificates do not guarantee a raise. Pay can also differ by employer type and size, region, and hours or overtime.
Jobs like this
In the US, a typical dental lab technician makes $49,610 → see more
Data table and sources
| Company size | Everyone | Men | Women | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any size | $30,575 | $31,729 | $27,698 | 41.6 |
| Big company | $34,378 | $34,685 | $32,965 | 42.7 |
| Mid-size | $30,329 | $30,542 | $27,731 | 56.8 |
| Small company | $29,072 | $30,401 | $26,643 | 39.5 |
Source: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 (regular workers, by occupation) (e-Stat). Yearly pay = monthly contractual cash earnings × 12 + annual bonus. Averages for regular workers at firms with 10+ employees. Public employees (teachers, police, firefighters) and company executives are not in this survey. e-stat.go.jp
Pages used for the text
- shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/Occupation/Detail/165
- www.mhlw.go.jp/kouseiroudoushou/shikaku_shiken/shikagikoushi/index.html
- www.nichigi.or.jp/interested/guide
- www.guppy.jp/dt/og/%E6%AD%AF%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%E5%B7%A5%E5%A3%AB%E3%81%AE%E4%BB%
- www.guppy.jp/dt/og/%E6%AD%AF%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80%E5%B7%A5%E5%A3%AB%E3%81%AE%E7%B5%
- iactor.co.jp/guide/dental-technician-salary
Data: MHLW Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY