Orthotists and Prosthetists earn a median of $81,110 per year ($38.99/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 12.9% through 2035, with about 700 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 29-2091
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Orthotist and Prosthetist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $81,110a year, or $38.99/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $46KTop 10% $120K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +12.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+12.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +12.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7009,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20259.5K
- Projected 203510.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 9.5K Projected 2035 10.7K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's5%
- Post-bacc certificate5%
- Master's90%
Highest education held by orthotists and prosthetists Segment Value Bachelor's 5% Post-bacc certificate 5% Master's 90%
Also advertised as: Certified Orthotist (CO), Certified Pedorthist, Certified Prosthetist (CP), Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO), Licensed Orthotist, LPO (Licensed Prosthetist Orthotist).
Pay
How much do Orthotists and Prosthetists make?
Every orthotist and prosthetist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$81,110
Middle half earn $61,290 to $99,990
- 10th
- $46,350
- 25th
- $61,290
- 75th
- $99,990
- 90th
- $119,810
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $46,350 |
| 25th | $61,290 |
| Median | $81,110 |
| 75th | $99,990 |
| 90th | $119,810 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $81,110
- Median hourly wage
- $38.99/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $83,740
- People employed
- 9,390
Versus all US occupations
At $81,110, Orthotists and Prosthetists earn 59% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $30,130 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $119,810 or more while the bottom 10% earn $46,350, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 61% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $118,950, and still leads at $109,324 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Orthotists and Prosthetists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $118,950 | $109,324 | 240 |
| 2Washington | $105,240 | $98,343 | 250 |
| 3Utah | $96,530 | $97,639 | 70 |
| 4Maryland | $95,030 | $90,540 | 90 |
| 5Oregon | $93,790 | $90,740 | 120 |
| 6Rhode Island | $93,350 | $91,269 | N/A |
| 7Virginia | $92,930 | $91,915 | 340 |
| 8California | $91,820 | $82,930 | 1,050 |
| 9Massachusetts | $89,860 | $84,968 | 350 |
| 10Wisconsin | $89,710 | $95,340 | 140 |
Job outlook
Is Orthotist and Prosthetist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +12.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Orthotists and Prosthetists | +12.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Orthotists and Prosthetists to change 12.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.7× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 700 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 9,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
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.
Getting in
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as orthotists and prosthetists.
- Master's Degree90%
- Bachelor's Degree5%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 90% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Orthotist and Prosthetist do?
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt musculoskeletal devices for patients who have disabling conditions. These devices include artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
- Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances.
- Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most orthotists and prosthetists work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending 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 lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where orthotists and prosthetists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Ambulatory healthcare services35%
- Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing25%
- Health and personal care retailers12%
- Federal government, excluding postal service10%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private10%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 35% |
| Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing | 25% |
| Health and personal care retailers | 12% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 10% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 10% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.4
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Service Orientation3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Coordination3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Operations Analysis3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser 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 Orthotist and Prosthetist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Orthotist and Prosthetist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| 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 investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Realistic6.0
- Investigative5.1
- Social4.3
- Conventional3.6
- Artistic2.0
- Enterprising1.6
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
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More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with orthotists and prosthetists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Orthotist and Prosthetist$81,110
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Orthotist and Prosthetist | $81,110 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Orthotist and Prosthetist appears on
Questions
Orthotist and Prosthetist: frequently asked questions
How much do Orthotists and Prosthetists make?
Orthotists and Prosthetists earn a median of $81,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 59% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $38.99/hr. The middle half earn between $61,290 and $99,990. The top 10% earn $119,810 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Orthotist and Prosthetist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Orthotists and Prosthetists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 90.0% hold master's degree.
Is Orthotist and Prosthetist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 12.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Orthotist and Prosthetist do?
Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt musculoskeletal devices for patients who have disabling conditions. A core O*NET task: fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Orthotists and Prosthetists the most?
The highest state medians for Orthotists and Prosthetists are New Jersey ($118,950), Washington ($105,240), Utah ($96,530) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Orthotist and Prosthetist?
O*NET scores Orthotists and Prosthetists highest on the Realistic, Investigative and Social interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.