Orthotists and Prosthetists: Career Profile
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
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The Daily Work of Orthotists and Prosthetists Perform?
The core tasks performed by orthotists and prosthetists cover:
- Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort.
- Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses.
- Maintain patients' records.
- Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
- Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
- Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
- Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
- Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances.
What Orthotists and Prosthetists Need to Know
Top orthotists and prosthetists rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Orthotists and Prosthetists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- American Board Certified Orthotist (ABC Orthotist)
- Artificial Limb Fitter
- Board Orthotist
- Board Prosthetist
- Certified Orthotic Fitter
- Certified Orthotist (CO)
- Certified Pedorthist
- Certified Prosthetist (CP)
How Many Orthotists and Prosthetists Are There?
The U.S. employs around 2,935,413 orthotists and prosthetists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +2.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Orthotists and Prosthetists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $86,860 |
| Hourly median | $41.76 |
| 10th percentile | $61,860 |
| 25th percentile | $74,360 |
| 75th percentile | $99,360 |
| 90th percentile | $111,861 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $110,760 |
| Maine | $98,520 |
| Utah | $92,070 |
| California | $91,870 |
| Alabama | $90,690 |
| Washington | $90,240 |
| Mississippi | $89,860 |
| South Carolina | $89,860 |
| Massachusetts | $86,510 |
| Wisconsin | $86,290 |
| Nevada | $84,840 |
| Iowa | $84,340 |
| West Virginia | $83,840 |
| Rhode Island | $83,220 |
| Oklahoma | $83,080 |
| New Hampshire | $82,720 |
| Texas | $82,320 |
| Tennessee | $81,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,360 |
| Minnesota | $80,180 |
| Virginia | $79,970 |
| Illinois | $79,610 |
| New York | $79,180 |
| Maryland | $78,890 |
| Missouri | $78,080 |
| South Dakota | $78,000 |
| Oregon | $77,720 |
| Georgia | $76,890 |
| North Carolina | $76,270 |
| Michigan | $75,910 |
| Kansas | $74,770 |
| Arkansas | $71,550 |
| Arizona | $64,790 |
| Florida | $64,730 |
| Ohio | $62,510 |
| Colorado | $62,200 |
| Louisiana | $61,460 |
| North Dakota | $60,820 |
| Kentucky | $58,240 |
| New Mexico | $57,910 |
| Indiana | $54,970 |
| Nebraska | $51,920 |
| Connecticut | $49,770 |
| District of Columbia | $42,540 |
| Wyoming | $39,000 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for orthotists and prosthetists vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $90,783 | 23.1% | 1.28 |
| New England | $85,136 | 7.3% | 2.43 |
| Middle Atlantic | $80,305 | 16.6% | 1.20 |
| Rocky Mountains | $79,823 | 1.6% | 1.09 |
| Southwest | $75,864 | 8.7% | 0.77 |
| Southeast | $75,013 | 20.0% | 0.93 |
| Plains States | $74,081 | 8.5% | 1.34 |
| Great Lakes | $73,040 | 13.6% | 1.09 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Orthotists and Prosthetists
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $103,660 | 340 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $102,130 | 70 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | NH | $100,740 | 90 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $99,360 | 500 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $98,820 | 120 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $98,520 | 100 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $96,260 | 60 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $94,920 | 330 |
Which Industries Hire Orthotists and Prosthetists
The largest employers of orthotists and prosthetists work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,980 | $74,690 |
| Manufacturing | 2,820 | $83,220 |
| Retail Trade | 1,330 | $71,150 |
| Wholesale Trade | 620 | $77,930 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 110 | $73,970 |
Below are examples of industries where orthotists and prosthetists work:
Software Orthotists and Prosthetists Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for orthotists and prosthetists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
- Frequency of Decision Making
Getting Started in This Career
Typical orthotists and prosthetists positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Orthodontists (Primary-Long)
- Prosthodontists (Primary-Long)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (Supplemental)
- Podiatrists (Primary-Short)
- Physical Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Anesthetists (Supplemental)
- Audiologists (Primary-Short)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future orthotists and prosthetists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 29-2091.00 (Orthotists and Prosthetists).
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