Production
Medical appliance technician
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Median pay
$48,030
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,300
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Medical appliance technician
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Medical appliance technician: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- 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.
- Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.
- Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
Also called: Certified Orthotist (CO) · Certified Pedorthotist · Certified Prosthetist (CP) · Hearing Aid Repair Technician (Hearing Aid Repair Tech) · Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech) · Orthopedic Technician (Orthopedic Tech) · Orthotic Technician (Orthotic Tech) · Prosthetic Lab Tech (Prosthetic Laboratory Technician)
Outlook and AI
Medical appliance technicians held 11,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 11,700 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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