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Prosthetic technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$48,030median pay per year, or $23.09 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,510lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,21025th percentile
  3. $48,030median
  4. $60,58075th percentile
  5. $75,740top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A prosthetic technician, which BLS counts as a medical appliance technician, had a median pay of $48,030 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, the same as all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.5%[2]
Openings per year
1,300[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do prosthetic technicians make?

The median pay for medical appliance technicians was $48,030 a year, or $23.09 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $52,730 a year, or $25.35 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,510 a year and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $42,210[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $60,580, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $75,740[4]. BLS does not publish a starting salary, and each percentile is a cutoff point[9].

Measure Annual pay Hourly pay
10th percentile[4][10] $36,510 $17.55
25th percentile[4][10] $42,210 $20.29
Median[1] $48,030 $23.09
75th percentile[4][10] $60,580 $29.12
90th percentile[4][10] $75,740 $36.41

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and the value of benefits, and they do not count some bonuses[11]. About 1% of medical appliance technicians were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Arizona had the highest state median at $72,760, followed by Pennsylvania at $60,920 and Massachusetts at $59,810[13]. Florida had the most jobs, 1,800, then California with 1,300 and Illinois with 790[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler had the highest median at $81,600, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $59,910[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area had the most jobs, 690, with a median of $48,850[16]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin followed with 640 jobs[16].

Show median pay in 40 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Arizona[13]$72,760300
Pennsylvania$60,920200
Massachusetts$59,810n/a
Colorado$59,560n/a
Virginia$56,260260
New Hampshire$54,98040
Nebraska$54,770170
North Carolina$54,650600
Connecticut$54,430130
Minnesota$53,750n/a
South Dakota$52,95030
New Jersey$52,400310
Iowa$51,79080
California$51,5301,300
Louisiana$50,770n/a
Oklahoma$49,870110
Michigan$49,140480
Rhode Island$49,100n/a
Wisconsin$48,890100
New York$48,080720
Washington$48,030310
Idaho$48,02040
Maine$47,67030
Maryland$46,940160
Missouri$46,750350
Oregon$46,450130
Texas$46,430310
Illinois$46,370790
Florida$46,1101,800
Nevada$45,87090
Indiana$45,820130
Ohio$45,710420
Kentucky$45,690n/a
Mississippi$45,100110
Tennessee$44,700370
Utah$44,110170
South Carolina$42,230200
Arkansas$39,45060
Georgia$37,44050
Kansas$37,090n/a

How to become a prosthetic technician

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. The details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group, including dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians[17].

Certification is optional. It may make candidates more attractive to employers and may open more chances to move up[21]. In large facilities, technicians may move up to a supervisor role and train new technicians. Some go on to own a laboratory[22].

The profile lists these useful qualities: attention to detail, good use of the hands, teamwork, problem solving, and knowledge of tools, materials and automated machinery[23][24][25][26][27].

What prosthetic technicians do

O*NET describes the job as building, maintaining or repairing supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices[28]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

In the BLS profile for the wider group, the largest employer group is medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, at 61%[30]. Most technicians in the group work full time, and schedules may vary[31]. Handling some materials can expose them to health and safety hazards, so workers typically use protective gear, including goggles, gloves or masks. They may spend long periods standing or bending[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 11,300 to 11,700 jobs[2]. Across all occupations, the projected growth is also 3.5%[3]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, while OEWS counted about 11,280 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[33][2].

BLS expects about 1,300 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is a little below the all-occupations median[1][5]. The typical entry education is a high school diploma, followed by moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. Growth matches the all-occupations rate[2][3]. The job may suit people who are precise, good with their hands and comfortable standing or bending for long periods[23][24][32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a prosthetic technician make an hour?
The median for medical appliance technicians was $23.09 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.35[1][8].
What education do you need to be a prosthetic technician?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education[7]. Employers may prefer a postsecondary certificate or associate's degree[19].
Is prosthetic technician a growing job?
BLS projects 3.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, the same as all occupations, with about 1,300 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for prosthetic technicians?
Arizona had the highest median at $72,760 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Appliance Technicians in the US was $48,030 per year and $23.09 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Medical Appliance Technicians is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 11,300 to 11,700 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Appliance Technicians: 10th percentile $36,510, 25th percentile $42,210, 75th percentile $60,580, 90th percentile $75,740. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,300 openings for Medical Appliance Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Medical Appliance Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Appliance Technicians was $52,730 per year and $25.35 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Appliance Technicians: 10th percentile $17.55, 25th percentile $20.29, 75th percentile $29.12, 90th percentile $36.41. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Medical Appliance Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Medical Appliance Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Medical Appliance Technicians jobs: Florida 1,800; California 1,300; Illinois 790; New York 720; North Carolina 600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Medical Appliance Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $81,600; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,910; Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $57,880; Raleigh-Cary, NC $56,490; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $55,560; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $53,950; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $52,820; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $49,920. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Medical Appliance Technicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 690 (median $48,850); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 640 (median $47,310); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 420 (median $53,950); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 340 (median $46,210); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 290 (median $47,340); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 250 (median $59,910). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Dental and Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians and Medical Appliance Technicians" covers Medical Appliance Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Medical Appliance Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Medical Appliance Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians in 2025: Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing 61%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,280 people were employed as Medical Appliance Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Medical Appliance Technicians: 5.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.