CareerFacts

All careers › Orthotists and Prosthetists

Prosthetist and orthotist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$81,110median pay per year, or $38.99 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,350lowest 10% earn less
  2. $61,29025th percentile
  3. $81,110median
  4. $99,99075th percentile
  5. $119,810top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Orthotists and prosthetists, who design and fit braces and artificial limbs, had a median pay of $81,110 a year[1]. Employment is projected to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+12.9%[2]
Openings per year
700[5]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[6]

How much do prosthetists and orthotists make?

The median pay for orthotists and prosthetists was $81,110 a year, or $38.99 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $83,740 a year, or $40.26 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year, so this job's median was above it[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,350 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $119,810[3]. BLS reports percentile boundaries and no starting salary[8].

Point in the pay range Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $46,350 $22.28
25th percentile[3][9] $61,290 $29.47
Median[1] $81,110 $38.99
75th percentile[3][9] $99,990 $48.07
90th percentile[3][9] $119,810 $57.60

The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and the value of benefits[10]. About 9,390 people held these jobs in May 2025, so this is a small occupation[11].

Pay by state and city

New Jersey had the highest state median at $118,950[12]. Washington followed at $105,240, then Utah at $96,530[12]. The District of Columbia had the lowest median on the list at $44,080[12].

California had the most jobs at 1,050[13]. Florida followed with 550, then Texas with 500[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median at $107,520[14]. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro came next at $106,990, then Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $105,420[14]. New York also had the most jobs of any metro area, 320[15].

Show median pay in 43 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[12]$118,950240
Washington$105,240250
Utah$96,53070
Maryland$95,03090
Oregon$93,790120
Rhode Island$93,350n/a
Virginia$92,930340
California$91,8201,050
Massachusetts$89,860350
Wisconsin$89,710140
New York$89,610300
Illinois$89,180240
Iowa$87,30090
Oklahoma$83,78080
North Carolina$82,190260
Pennsylvania$81,460430
Florida$81,370550
Maine$81,23060
West Virginia$80,86070
South Dakota$80,76040
Mississippi$80,50060
Nevada$80,390100
South Carolina$79,990230
Arkansas$78,85040
Missouri$78,100250
Texas$77,220500
Connecticut$77,030n/a
Colorado$76,720n/a
Alabama$76,400100
Georgia$75,920110
Michigan$75,810n/a
Minnesota$75,53090
Louisiana$75,460100
Kansas$74,030n/a
New Hampshire$70,400130
Arizona$67,35070
Indiana$66,180120
Tennessee$65,170250
Ohio$64,870390
Kentucky$64,73080
New Mexico$62,97070
North Dakota$62,57040
Nebraska$61,290110
District of Columbia$44,080170

How to become a prosthetist or orthotist

BLS lists a master's degree as the usual entry education, with no related work experience and an internship or residency for training[6].

Some states require a license, and the rules vary by state[19]. Employers usually prefer certification, which involves meeting education requirements to take exams and finishing continuing education to keep it[20].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 90% said a master's degree is the required level[21]. Our facts do not give tuition or exam names.

What prosthetists and orthotists do

They design, measure, fit and adapt braces, appliances and prostheses such as artificial limbs or facial parts[22]. Typical tasks include:

BLS lists compassion, clear communication, precise measuring and manual dexterity among the important qualities[24][25][26][27].

Where they work

Orthotists and prosthetists work in healthcare settings and in labs. In offices they assess patients and fit devices. In the lab they may use tools such as drills and sanders to build or adjust them[28]. They work with physicians, surgeons and therapists[28]. Ambulatory healthcare services were the largest employer group in 2025, at 35%[29].

Workers may face safety hazards from tools and materials and take precautions such as eye protection, gloves and masks[30]. Most work full time[31]. They may spend a lot of time bending or crouching to examine or measure patients[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of orthotists and prosthetists to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That means about 9,500 jobs growing to 10,700[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[33].

About 700 openings are projected each year[5]. They include jobs that open when workers retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.6% of workers leave the labor force and 3.3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a well-paid job with a long road in. The median of $81,110 is above the all-occupations median of $50,980[1][4]. Getting there takes a bachelor's degree, then about 2 years of master's study and about 1 year of residency[16][18]. Projected growth is well above the all-occupations rate, though the number of openings is small at about 700 a year[2][33][5]. The work is hands-on and involves close contact with patients and other healthcare workers[24][35][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a prosthetist make an hour?
The median was $38.99 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 25th percentile was $29.47 and the 75th was $48.07[9].
What degree do you need to be a prosthetist?
BLS lists a master's degree, followed by a residency[6]. Master's programs take about 2 years and typically ask for a bachelor's degree to enter[16].
How long does it take to become a prosthetist or orthotist?
A master's program takes about 2 years and a residency about 1 year, after a bachelor's degree[16][18].
What is the highest paying state for prosthetists and orthotists?
New Jersey had the highest median at $118,950 a year, followed by Washington at $105,240[12].
Are prosthetist jobs in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[2][33]. About 700 openings are projected each year[5].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Orthotists and Prosthetists in the US was $81,110 per year and $38.99 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Orthotists and Prosthetists is projected to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 9,500 to 10,700 jobs (a change of +1,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Orthotists and Prosthetists: 10th percentile $46,350, 25th percentile $61,290, 75th percentile $99,990, 90th percentile $119,810. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 700 openings for Orthotists and Prosthetists 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
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Orthotists and Prosthetists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Orthotists and Prosthetists was $83,740 per year and $40.26 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. 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
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Orthotists and Prosthetists: 10th percentile $22.28, 25th percentile $29.47, 75th percentile $48.07, 90th percentile $57.60. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 9,390 people were employed as Orthotists and Prosthetists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Orthotists and Prosthetists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Orthotists and Prosthetists jobs: California 1,050; Florida 550; Texas 500; Pennsylvania 430; Ohio 390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Orthotists and Prosthetists (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $107,520; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $106,990; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $105,420; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $103,070; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $97,290; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $93,600; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $91,820; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $91,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Orthotists and Prosthetists jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 320 (median $107,520); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 280 (median $103,070); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 250 (median $82,830); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 220 (median $90,160); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 200 (median $93,600); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 170 (median $91,820). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 29-2091.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Master's Degree 90%, Bachelor's Degree 5%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Orthotists and Prosthetists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Orthotists and Prosthetists. O*NET OnLine
  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. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of orthotists and prosthetists in 2025: Ambulatory healthcare services 35%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Orthotists and Prosthetists: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. 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.

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.