Medical Appliance Technicians: Career Overview
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
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What Tasks Do Medical Appliance Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by medical appliance technicians span:
- Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
- Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.
- Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
- Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.
- Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.
Skills and Knowledge
Top medical appliance technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Arch Support Maker
- Arch Support Technician
- Arch-Support Maker
- Artificial Eye Maker
- Artificial Limb Maker
- Artificial Plastic Eye Maker
- Brace Maker
- Certified Pedorthotist
Job Outlook
There are roughly 355,112 medical appliance technicians working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +8.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Medical Appliance Technicians Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $29,828 |
| Hourly median | $14.34 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $23,162 |
| 75th percentile | $36,494 |
| 90th percentile | $43,160 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | $84,070 |
| West Virginia | $73,580 |
| Arizona | $65,040 |
| Colorado | $58,390 |
| New Hampshire | $53,170 |
| Oklahoma | $52,520 |
| Tennessee | $52,130 |
| Massachusetts | $52,000 |
| Idaho | $51,530 |
| New Mexico | $51,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,460 |
| Michigan | $50,950 |
| New Jersey | $50,690 |
| Texas | $50,430 |
| Virginia | $50,240 |
| California | $47,380 |
| New York | $47,310 |
| Iowa | $47,290 |
| Mississippi | $46,990 |
| North Carolina | $46,750 |
| Ohio | $46,740 |
| South Carolina | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,550 |
| Missouri | $46,390 |
| Rhode Island | $46,090 |
| Connecticut | $45,870 |
| Maryland | $45,290 |
| Kansas | $45,290 |
| Arkansas | $45,140 |
| Florida | $44,920 |
| Wisconsin | $42,060 |
| Nevada | $41,600 |
| Utah | $40,600 |
| Illinois | $40,230 |
| South Dakota | $39,370 |
| Indiana | $39,330 |
| Georgia | $36,300 |
| Oregon | $30,820 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,240 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for medical appliance technicians differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $57,247 | 7.9% | 1.04 |
| Rocky Mountains | $51,223 | 4.7% | 1.45 |
| New England | $49,195 | 6.9% | 2.26 |
| Middle Atlantic | $48,428 | 18.7% | 1.37 |
| Southeast | $46,936 | 22.8% | 1.47 |
| Far Western US | $46,544 | 16.9% | 1.14 |
| Plains States | $45,997 | 3.8% | 1.20 |
| Great Lakes | $43,167 | 14.9% | 1.16 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $76,040 | 270 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $61,510 | 70 |
| Tucson, AZ | AZ | $60,980 | |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $59,420 | |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $58,520 | 100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $55,370 | 90 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | TX | $55,080 | 40 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | NH | $54,260 | 50 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of medical appliance technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 7,140 | $46,450 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,760 | $50,910 |
| Wholesale Trade | 1,120 | $57,620 |
| Retail Trade | 900 | $46,220 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 200 | $40,810 |
Below are examples of industries where medical appliance technicians work:
Tools and Technology
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of medical appliance technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Typical medical appliance technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric (Supplemental)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Surgical Technologists (Primary-Long)
- Orthotists and Prosthetists (Supplemental)
- Medical Equipment Preparers (Primary-Long)
- Endoscopy Technicians (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for medical appliance technicians commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians).
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