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Skilled Trades

Medical Appliance Technicians

Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.

Median salary (BLS)

$48,030

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$37k – $76k

Job outlook

+4% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Medical Appliance Technicians

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Medical Appliance Technicians" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Medical Appliance Technicians

    Entry / Junior

    $36,510

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Medical Appliance Technicians

    Established

    $48,030

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Medical Appliance Technicians

    Senior

    $61,885

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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 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.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.