Salary and Outlook
According to the US Department of Labor, there are 11,100 people employed as orthotists and prosthetists in
the United States.
The median annual salary is $75,440.
Entry level employees earn approximately $41,730 per year and senior employees earn approximately $124,040
per year.
Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.
Job Duties
- Maintain patients' records.
- Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort.
- Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
- Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses.
- Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
- Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
- Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances.
- Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process.
- Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
- Train and supervise support staff, such as orthopedic and prosthetic assistants and technicians.
- Update skills and knowledge by attending conferences and seminars.
- Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices.
- Show and explain orthopedic and prosthetic appliances to healthcare workers.
- Research new ways to construct and use orthopedic and prosthetic devices.
- Publish research findings or present them at conferences and seminars.