### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Orthotists and Prosthetists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			orthotists and prosthetists imageOrthotists and prosthetists fit, test, and adjust orthotic and prosthetic devices.							
						Quick Facts:     Orthotists and Prosthetists2023     Median Pay
            						$78,100     per year
										$37.55     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Internship/residencyNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    9,500Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    15% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,500What Orthotists and Prosthetists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt medical devices, such as supportive braces and artificial limbs, for patients who have disabling conditions.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Orthotists and prosthetists usually work in healthcare settings and in laboratories. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become an Orthotist and Prosthetist
                                                
                        
Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation. Some states require these workers to be licensed.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for orthotists and prosthetists was $78,100 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of orthotists and prosthetists is projected to grow							 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 800 openings for orthotists and prosthetists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for orthotists and prosthetists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of orthotists and prosthetists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about orthotists and prosthetists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Orthotists and Prosthetists Do 
            

			Orthotists and prosthetists create devices that allow patients to regain or improve mobility and functionality.Orthotists and prosthetists create devices that allow patients to regain or improve mobility and functionality.			
Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt musculoskeletal devices for patients who have disabling conditions. These devices include artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
Duties
Orthotists and prosthetists typically do the following:
Evaluate and interview patients to determine their needs
Take measurements or impressions, as needed, for fitting the patient with a brace or artificial limb
Select materials to be used for the device
Design and fabricate medical supportive devices based on physicians' prescriptions
Instruct patients and their families in the use and care of patients' devices
Adjust, repair, or replace patients' devices
Document care and interactions with patientsThese workers may specialize in either orthotics or prosthetics, or they may do both. Orthotists work with patients who need medical devices, such as braces and splints, that provide support to a body part. Prosthetists work with patients who need artificial limbs or other body parts.
Orthotists and prosthetists customize the fit of their patients' medical devices to support individual needs. For example, an orthotist addressing a knee injury may measure the joint's circumference and design a stabilizing brace made of materials such as metal, elastic, and carbon fiber. A prosthetist might take a mold of a patient's arm at the point of amputation to design and fit an artificial limb out of durable plastic and other materials.
Some orthotists and prosthetists construct the devices they design for their patients. Other orthotists and prosthetists supervise the construction of the orthotic or prosthetic devices by medical appliance technicians.
 Work Environment
			Orthotists and prosthetists interact with patients during assessment and when fitting devices.Orthotists and prosthetists interact with patients during assessment and when fitting devices.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Orthotists and prosthetists held about 9,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of orthotists and prosthetists were as follows:
        Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing
                33%Ambulatory healthcare services
                29Health and personal care retailers
                13Federal government, excluding postal service
                10Hospitals; state, local, and private
                9Orthotists and prosthetists work both in healthcare settings and in laboratories. In healthcare offices, they interact with patients during assessment and fitting of a device. In the lab, they may work with tools, such as drills and sanders, to construct or adjust devices. Orthotists and prosthetists collaborate with other healthcare workers, including physicians and surgeons, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
Injuries and Illnesses
Orthotists and prosthetists may be exposed to safety hazards when working with certain tools or materials. To minimize risks, they take precautions such as wearing eye protection, gloves, and masks.
Work Schedules
Most orthotists and prosthetists work full time.
 How to Become an Orthotist and Prosthetist

			Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation.Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation.			
Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation. Some states require these workers to be licensed.
Education
To enter the occupation, orthotists and prosthetists typically need a master's degree in orthotics and prosthetics from a program accredited by a professional organization, such as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Master's degree programs, which typically require a bachelor’s degree to enter, take about 2 years to complete.
Master's degree programs include academic coursework and supervised clinical experience. Applicants to these programs may need to have completed undergraduate coursework in sciences, mathematics, and other subjects. Graduate-level coursework includes topics such as patient assessment, spinal orthotics, and limb prosthetics. In clinical training, students gain experience by working in settings such as hospitals or orthotics and prosthetics clinics.
Training
Following graduation from a master's degree program, candidates typically complete a residency that has been accredited by the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE). Residency programs in either orthotics or prosthetics typically last about 1 year, although they may take longer for candidates who want to specialize in both disciplines.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Some states require orthotists and prosthetists to be licensed. Requirements vary; contact your state's licensing board for more information.
Employers usually prefer to hire candidates with certification that indicates their competency in the occupation. Certification typically requires that candidates meet education requirements to sit for exams and complete continuing education requirements to maintain it.
Important Qualities
***Compassion.*** Orthotists and prosthetists work with patients who may have experienced injury or illness. They must be understanding and sympathetic in their interactions with these patients.
***Communication skills.*** Orthotists and prosthetists must be able to explain to patients how to use and care for their medical devices. They also must communicate details about the devices with other healthcare workers, including physicians and surgeons, physical therapists, and medical appliance technicians.
***Detail oriented.*** Orthotists and prosthetists must be precise when taking and recording measurements to ensure that devices fit properly.
***Dexterity.*** Orthotists and prosthetists must be adept at working with their hands to fit, construct, and adapt devices that have intricate mechanical parts.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Orthotists and prosthetists meet with patients and their families. They also collaborate on patient care with other members of the healthcare team.
***Physical stamina.*** Orthotists and prosthetists may spend a lot of time bending or crouching to examine or measure patients.
***Problem-solving skills.*** Orthotists and prosthetists evaluate their patients' needs to find creative solutions for rehabilitation.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Orthotists and ProsthetistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Orthotists and prosthetists$78,100  Health technologists and technicians$51,250  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for orthotists and prosthetists was $78,100 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $117,250.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for orthotists and prosthetists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $83,400Ambulatory healthcare services
                82,010Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing
                80,660Health and personal care retailers
                68,820Hospitals; state, local, and private
                66,510
        		
	





			Most orthotists and prosthetists work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Orthotists and ProsthetistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Orthotists and prosthetists15%  Health technologists and technicians7%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of orthotists and prosthetists is projected to grow				 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 800 openings for orthotists and prosthetists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand for orthotists and prosthetists is projected to rise due to the aging population, the growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes, and the continued occurrence of trauma events.
The growing size of the older population and the consequent rise in age-related health issues, such as osteoarthritis and injuries from falls, will increase the need for devices that help improve bodily function and relieve pain. In addition, rising obesity rates will place greater demand on orthoses to alleviate foot and heel pain, and prosthetic care will be needed to address amputations and other complications from diabetes.
Trauma event survivors, such as those who have experienced industrial or car accidents, will need orthotic and prosthetic care to regain or improve mobility.
			

                        Employment projections data for     orthotists and prosthetists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Orthotists and prosthetists**
			29-2091
			9,500
			10,900
			15
			1,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Orthotists and prosthetists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of orthotists and prosthetists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Physical Therapists**
            Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $99,710**Physicians and Surgeons**
            Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            This wage is equal to or greater than $239,200 per year.**Respiratory Therapists**
            Respiratory therapists care for patients who have trouble breathing—for example, because of a chronic condition such as asthma.
            Associate's degree
            $77,960**Dental and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians and Medical Appliance Technicians**
            Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians make or repair dentures, eyeglasses, prosthetics, and related products.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $44,640**Occupational Therapists**
            Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.
            Master's degree
            $96,370
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about orthotists and prosthetists, visit
American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists
For a list of accredited programs for orthotists and prosthetists, visit
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
For a list of accredited residency programs for orthotists and prosthetists, visit
National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education
For more information about certification for orthotists and prosthetists, visit
American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics
Board of Certification/Accreditation

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Orthotists and Prosthetists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Orthotists and Prosthetists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/orthotists-and-prosthetists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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