Medical Appliance Technicians

Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.

Also called: 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), Arch Support Maker, Arch Support Technician (Arch Support Tech), Artificial Eye Maker, Artificial Limb Maker, Artificial Plastic Eye Maker, Brace Maker, Medical Appliance Maker, Medical Assembler, Medical Device Assembler, Medical Device Technician (Medical Device Tech), Medical Instrument Maker, Orthopaedic Technician (Orthopaedic Tech), Orthopaedic Technologist, Orthopedic Brace Maker, Orthopedic Manufacturing Technologist, Orthotic Fabricator Technician (Orthotic Fabricator Tech), Orthotic Finish Grinding Technician (Orthotic Finish Grinding Tech), Orthotic Fitter, Orthotics Fitter, Prosthetics Fabrication Technician, Surgical Appliance Fitter, Surgical Brace Maker, Surgical Instrument Maker

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.
Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.

Skills, machines and equipment

Critical Thinking
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Troubleshooting
Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring
Social Perceptiveness
Operations Monitoring
Active Learning
Complex Problem Solving

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (70.50% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

42,210–60,580 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-9082.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (70.50% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Medical Appliance Technicians