Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 14,600 people employed as medical appliance technicians in the United States. The median annual salary is $41,800. Entry level employees earn approximately $27,100 per year and senior employees earn approximately $69,850 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Service or repair machinery used in the fabrication of appliances.
• Mix pigments to match patients' skin coloring, according to formulas, and apply mixtures to orthotic or prosthetic devices.
• Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices.
• Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.
• Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
• Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
• Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
• Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
• Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.
• Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.
• Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
• Fit appliances onto patients, and make any necessary adjustments.
• Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
• Take patients' body or limb measurements for use in device construction.
• Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.

Career List