Find Trade Colleges
Orthotists and Prosthetists: Job Description
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
The Daily Work of Orthotists and Prosthetists Perform?
Typical responsibilities of orthotists and prosthetists span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top orthotists and prosthetists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Orthotists and Prosthetists Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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. Demand is forecast to grow by +2.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Orthotists and Prosthetists
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary 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 |
Where Orthotists and Prosthetists Earn the Most
Earnings for orthotists and prosthetists shift depending on where you work. 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 |
Top Industries Employing Orthotists and Prosthetists
The largest employers of orthotists and prosthetists are found across 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 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for orthotists and prosthetists reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
- Frequency of Decision Making
Education and Training
Typical orthotists and prosthetists positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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
Students preparing for orthotists and prosthetists often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
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: 29-2091.00 (Orthotists and Prosthetists).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.