Orthotists and Prosthetists Career, Salary and Skills
Orthotists and Prosthetists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $81,110 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 9,390. Wage data is published for 100 locations.
Occupation description
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
O*NET code
29-2091.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$81,110
Hourly median
$38.99
Employment
9,390
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.38 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.75 | 4.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.75 | 4.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.75 |
Typical 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.
- 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.
Technology
- Alibre Design
- American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association CodingPro
- Artsco OrthoPro Complete
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Computer graphics software
- Email software
- Futura International O.P.S.
- Gait analysis software
- Gez Bowman THE O&P HUB
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Infinity CAD Systems AutoSculpt
- Intuit QuickBooks
- MedePresence
- MedEvolve eCeno
Orthotists and Prosthetists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in CAMedian $91,820 · Employment 1,050
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in FLMedian $81,370 · Employment 550
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in TXMedian $77,220 · Employment 500
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in PAMedian $81,460 · Employment 430
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in OHMedian $64,870 · Employment 390
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in MAMedian $89,860 · Employment 350
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in VAMedian $92,930 · Employment 340
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in New York, NYMedian $107,520 · Employment 320
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in NYMedian $89,610 · Employment 300
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $103,070 · Employment 280
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in NCMedian $82,190 · Employment 260
- Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary in MOMedian $78,100 · Employment 250
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- Occupational Therapy AidesNational median $39,160
- Nurse AnesthetistsNational median $236,590
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- Emergency Medical TechniciansNational median $44,470
- Anesthesiologist AssistantsNational median $135,880
- Surgical TechnologistsNational median $64,650
- Endoscopy TechniciansNational median $48,430
- Surgical AssistantsNational median $66,800
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.