Designs and makes custom lifelike prostheses for the face and body, such as artificial ears, noses, eyes, and fingers. BLS does not publish separate figures for medical appliance technicians; it counts them within medical appliance technician (SOC 51-9082), whose median pay is $48,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9082
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Anaplastologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $48,030a year, or $23.09/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $76K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.5%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,30011,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202511.3K
- Projected 203511.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 11.3K Projected 2035 11.7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Certified Clinical Anaplastologist, CCA, Facial Prosthetist, Maxillofacial Prosthetics Technician, Medical Prosthetic Artist.
Pay
How much do Medical Appliance Technicians make?
Every anaplastologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$48,030
Middle half earn $42,210 to $60,580
- 10th
- $36,510
- 25th
- $42,210
- 75th
- $60,580
- 90th
- $75,740
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $36,510 |
| 25th | $42,210 |
| Median | $48,030 |
| 75th | $60,580 |
| 90th | $75,740 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $48,030
- Median hourly wage
- $23.09/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $52,730
- People employed
- 11,280
Versus all US occupations
At $48,030, Medical Appliance Technicians earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,950 a year.
Versus production occupations
The median is typical for the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $75,740 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,510, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Arizona pays the most at $72,760, and still leads at $72,271 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Medical Appliance Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Arizona | $72,760 | $72,271 | 300 |
| 2Pennsylvania | $60,920 | $62,436 | 200 |
| 3Massachusetts | $59,810 | $56,554 | N/A |
| 4Colorado | $59,560 | $57,796 | N/A |
| 5Virginia | $56,260 | $55,646 | 260 |
| 6New Hampshire | $54,980 | $52,782 | 40 |
| 7Nebraska | $54,770 | $60,786 | 170 |
| 8North Carolina | $54,650 | $57,937 | 600 |
| 9Connecticut | $54,430 | $52,534 | 130 |
| 10Minnesota | $53,750 | $54,502 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Anaplastologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Medical Appliance Technicians | +3.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Medical Appliance Technicians to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,300 openings are projected each year, 11.5% of the 11,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Anaplastologist
Anaplastologists come from a mix of backgrounds, including fine art, sculpture, medical illustration, dental technology, and biology. Training usually combines formal coursework with an extended apprenticeship or clinical training under an experienced practitioner, and some learn through medical sculpture or maxillofacial prosthetics programs.
The Board for Certification in Clinical Anaplastology (BCCA) awards the Certified Clinical Anaplastologist (CCA) credential through several eligibility pathways combining education and supervised clinical practice, a portfolio of cases, references, and an exam. The International Anaplastology Association provides education and professional connections.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an Anaplastologist do?
Anaplastologists create custom prostheses that restore the appearance of a missing or damaged part of the body, often after cancer surgery, trauma, burns, or birth differences. Common work includes artificial ears, noses, eye area prostheses, fingers, and partial hands made from medical-grade silicone.
They take impressions or 3D scans of the affected area, sculpt a model in wax or clay, make molds, and color the silicone to match the patient's skin tone, freckles, and veins. They fit the finished piece, which may attach with adhesive or bone-anchored implants, and teach the patient how to care for it. They work closely with surgeons, prosthodontists, and oncology teams.
Day-to-day tasks
- Take impressions or 3D scans of facial and body defects
- Sculpt prosthesis models in wax or clay
- Fabricate molds and cast medical-grade silicone
- Match skin color and surface detail with intrinsic and extrinsic coloring
- Fit prostheses using adhesives or implant-retained attachments
- Teach patients to wear, clean, and maintain their prostheses
- Coordinate with surgeons and oncology teams on treatment plans
- Use digital design and 3D printing to make molds and models
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Anaplastologists work in academic medical centers, cancer hospitals, maxillofacial prosthetics clinics, and private laboratories. Days combine patient appointments with detailed lab work, sculpting, mold making, and coloring at a bench. Schedules are typically regular weekday hours. The work needs fine motor control, patience, and an eye for color.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Listening3.6
- Speaking3.6
- Monitoring3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Writing2.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.8
- Troubleshooting3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
- Operation and Control3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.8 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Anaplastologist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ARS) built on O*NET's Medical Appliance Technician profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Anaplastologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic7.0
- Social4.0
- Investigative4.0
- Conventional3.7
- Artistic3.2
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Anaplastologist
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Production
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Production
- Production
- Production
Molder, Shaper, and Caster, Except Metal and Plastic
$46,170median a year
Most earn $36K to $62K
+5.8%High school
More production careers
Median annual pay, with medical appliance technicians highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Anaplastologist$48,030
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Anaplastologist | $48,030 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Anaplastologist appears on
Questions
Anaplastologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Medical Appliance Technicians make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for medical appliance technicians. It counts them within medical appliance technician, whose median pay is $48,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $42,210 and $60,580, and the top 10% earn $75,740 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Anaplastologist?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Medical Appliance Technicians. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Anaplastologist a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Anaplastologist do?
Anaplastologists create custom prostheses that restore the appearance of a missing or damaged part of the body, often after cancer surgery, trauma, burns, or birth differences. A typical task: take impressions or 3D scans of facial and body defects. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Medical Appliance Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Medical Appliance Technicians are Arizona ($72,760), Pennsylvania ($60,920), Massachusetts ($59,810) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Anaplastologist?
O*NET scores Medical Appliance Technicians highest on the Realistic, Social and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.