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.

What you'd actually do

• Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 4% of medical appliance technicians are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, analytical and organized and detail-focused.

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Quick questions

How much does a medical appliance technician make?

The median pay is $23.09 per hour — roughly $48,000 a year, with the real range running from about $17.55/hr (10th percentile) to $36.41/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a medical appliance technician?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

What does a medical appliance technician actually do all day?

Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form 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.