What They Do
Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt musculoskeletal devices for patients who have disabling conditions. These devices include artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
Duties
Orthotists and prosthetists typically do the following:
- Evaluate and interview patients to determine their needs
- Take measurements or impressions, as needed, for fitting the patient with a brace or artificial limb
- Select materials to be used for the device
- Design and fabricate medical supportive devices based on physicians' prescriptions
- Instruct patients and their families in the use and care of patients' devices
- Adjust, repair, or replace patients' devices
- Document care and interactions with patients
These workers may specialize in either orthotics or prosthetics, or they may do both. Orthotists work with patients who need medical devices, such as braces and splints, that provide support to a body part. Prosthetists work with patients who need artificial limbs or other body parts.
Orthotists and prosthetists customize the fit of their patients' medical devices to support individual needs. For example, an orthotist addressing a knee injury may measure the joint's circumference and design a stabilizing brace made of materials such as metal, elastic, and carbon fiber. A prosthetist might take a mold of a patient's arm at the point of amputation to design and fit an artificial limb out of durable plastic and other materials.
Some orthotists and prosthetists construct the devices they design for their patients. Other orthotists and prosthetists supervise the construction of the orthotic or prosthetic devices by medical appliance technicians.
Work Environment
Orthotists and prosthetists held about 10,100 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of orthotists and prosthetists were as follows:
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 32% |
| Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing | 27 |
| Health and personal care retailers | 11 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 10 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 8 |
Orthotists and prosthetists work both in healthcare settings and in laboratories. In healthcare offices, they interact with patients during assessment and fitting of a device. In the lab, they may work with tools, such as drills and sanders, to construct or adjust devices. Orthotists and prosthetists collaborate with other healthcare workers, including physicians and surgeons, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
Injuries and Illnesses
Orthotists and prosthetists may be exposed to safety hazards when working with certain tools or materials. To minimize risks, they take precautions such as wearing eye protection, gloves, and masks.
Work Schedules
Most orthotists and prosthetists work full time.
How to Become One
Orthotists and prosthetists typically need to complete a master's degree program and residency to enter the occupation. Some states require these workers to be licensed.
Pay
The median annual wage for orthotists and prosthetists was $78,310 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of orthotists and prosthetists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 900 openings for orthotists and prosthetists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.