CAREER
Medical Appliance Technicians
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$41,750
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+11.5% (faster than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Career
What Medical Appliance Technicians Do
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Other Job Titles Medical Appliance Technicians May Have
Certified Pedorthotist, Hearing Aid Repair Technician, Lab Technician, Orthopedic Technician, Orthotic Technician, Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (O and P Technician), Prosthetic Technician, Prosthetics Technician, Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- 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 that will be 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.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Medical Appliance Technicians
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Some college, no degree (36%)
High school diploma or equivalent
26%
Some college, no degree
36%
Associate's degree
17%
Other*
21%
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
