Medical appliance technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Mean (average) | $52,730 | $25.35 |
| 90th percentile | $75,740 | $36.41 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Medical appliance technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 41 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $72,760 | $51,240 | $81,650 | 300 | 1.29 |
| Arkansas | $39,450 | $36,010 | $57,920 | 60 | 0.66 |
| California | $51,530 | $38,980 | $83,300 | 1,300 | 0.99 |
| Colorado | $59,560 | $44,990 | $86,300 | ||
| Connecticut | $54,430 | $43,020 | $83,540 | 130 | 1.05 |
| Florida | $46,110 | $34,620 | $63,040 | 1,800 | 2.49 |
| Georgia | $37,440 | $36,710 | $55,270 | 50 | 0.15 |
| Idaho | $48,020 | $44,160 | $61,760 | 40 | 0.69 |
| Illinois | $46,370 | $39,030 | $64,170 | 790 | 1.8 |
| Indiana | $45,820 | $29,470 | $101,300 | 130 | 0.58 |
| Iowa | $51,790 | $32,470 | $74,140 | 80 | 0.71 |
| Kansas | $37,090 | $36,240 | $51,290 | ||
| Kentucky | $45,690 | $37,980 | $68,040 | ||
| Louisiana | $50,770 | $33,830 | $57,490 | ||
| Maine | $47,670 | $44,830 | $51,180 | 30 | 0.72 |
| Maryland | $46,940 | $46,460 | $78,990 | 160 | 0.79 |
| Massachusetts | $59,810 | $47,200 | $85,250 | ||
| Michigan | $49,140 | $39,320 | $65,020 | 480 | 1.51 |
| Minnesota | $53,750 | $40,640 | $70,010 | ||
| Mississippi | $45,100 | $32,650 | $95,640 | 110 | 1.29 |
| Missouri | $46,750 | $35,710 | $68,500 | 350 | 1.62 |
| Nebraska | $54,770 | $31,480 | $92,050 | 170 | 2.29 |
| Nevada | $45,870 | $31,670 | $58,330 | 90 | 0.8 |
| New Hampshire | $54,980 | $48,400 | $78,560 | 40 | 0.76 |
| New Jersey | $52,400 | $41,880 | $63,470 | 310 | 0.99 |
| New York | $48,080 | $36,920 | $62,210 | 720 | 1.03 |
| North Carolina | $54,650 | $40,410 | $76,140 | 600 | 1.67 |
| Ohio | $45,710 | $39,490 | $64,020 | 420 | 1.04 |
| Oklahoma | $49,870 | $39,240 | $64,590 | 110 | 0.9 |
| Oregon | $46,450 | $35,900 | $91,380 | 130 | 0.88 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,920 | $42,040 | $100,250 | 200 | 0.46 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,050 | $25,590 | $26,360 | 350 | 5.13 |
| Rhode Island | $49,100 | $40,200 | $63,430 | ||
| South Carolina | $42,230 | $32,100 | $61,740 | 200 | 1.18 |
| South Dakota | $52,950 | $38,500 | $80,250 | 30 | 0.93 |
| Tennessee | $44,700 | $27,300 | $75,230 | 370 | 1.55 |
| Texas | $46,430 | $36,510 | $73,580 | 310 | 0.3 |
| Utah | $44,110 | $41,920 | $75,260 | 170 | 1.31 |
| Virginia | $56,260 | $43,410 | $75,900 | 260 | 0.87 |
| Washington | $48,030 | $43,010 | $67,760 | 310 | 1.2 |
| Wisconsin | $48,890 | $36,980 | $60,880 | 100 | 0.46 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for medical appliance technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for medical appliance technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Orthotist/Prosthetist CIP 51.2307
- Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering CIP 51.2312
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- 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.
- Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.
- Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Footmaxx Metascan software
- Gait analysis software
- Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System
- Orthotic fabrication software
- Seattle Systems Shapemaker
- SoftSource CADview
- Vorum Research Corporation CANFIT-PLUS
Transferable skills for career changers: Quality Control Analysis, Troubleshooting, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Certified Orthotist (CO), Certified Pedorthotist, Certified Prosthetist (CP), Hearing Aid Repair Technician (Hearing Aid Repair Tech), Laboratory Technician (Lab Tech), Orthopedic Technician (Orthopedic Tech), Orthotic Technician (Orthotic Tech), Prosthetic Lab Tech (Prosthetic Laboratory Technician), Prosthetic Technician (Prosthetic Tech), Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician (Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do medical appliance technicians make?
The national median annual wage for medical appliance technicians was $48,030 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,510 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $75,740. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do medical appliance technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is medical appliance technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of medical appliance technicians to change +3.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay medical appliance technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Arizona ($72,760), Pennsylvania ($60,920), Massachusetts ($59,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.