Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Master's degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Orthotists and prosthetists design and work with medical devices for patients, combining technical expertise with strong problem solving and interpersonal skills. Nationally, this occupation reports a median annual salary of $78,310 and total employment of about 10,000, indicating a specialized but established field. A projected employment growth rate of 13.3% and 1,000 annual openings suggest steady demand over time. Success in this career draws on a blend of science, critical and analytical thinking, and comfort with computers and information technology, paired with strong customer service and communication abilities. Project management and adaptability also play an important role in handling complex cases and changing situations. With opportunities across multiple states and metro areas and a clear educational path at the master’s level, this field can appeal to students and career changers who want a science-based profession that also relies heavily on interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Orthotists and prosthetists earn a national median annual salary of $78,310, with higher median pay reported in several states and metro areas. Among states, Washington shows a median salary of $105,240, while Virginia, California, Massachusetts, and New York report medians between $89,610 and $92,930. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $108,110, and the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports $107,520. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also show median salaries above the national figure. These differences highlight that earning potential can vary meaningfully by location, with some areas offering notably higher pay. For individuals considering this career, evaluating both local salary levels and opportunity scores can help in targeting regions that align with income goals.
Orthotists and prosthetists have national employment of about 10,000, with projections indicating 13.3% employment growth. This projected growth, combined with an estimated 1,000 annual openings, points to consistent opportunities over time. The presence of this growth rate across the top states and metro areas listed indicates that expansion in the field is expected to be broadly distributed rather than limited to a single region. For students and job seekers, this means potential openings both in larger employment markets such as California and New York and in smaller markets with fewer practitioners. Career changers may find the combination of a defined educational path and projected growth useful when planning a transition. Prospective professionals can use the employment and openings data to gauge the scale of the field and anticipate competition and movement within the labor market.
Location choices can significantly shape career opportunities for orthotists and prosthetists. Among states, California leads with employment of 1,050 and a median salary of $91,820, paired with a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York each show median salaries near $90,000 and opportunity scores around the mid‑60s, with smaller but still meaningful employment levels. Washington offers the highest listed state median salary at $105,240, though with employment of 250 and a somewhat lower opportunity score of 56.29. Virginia combines a median salary of $92,930 with employment of 340 and an opportunity score of 54.96. At the metro level, opportunity scores are especially strong in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (77.42) and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (77.27), both of which also feature median salaries above $107,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH round out the top metros, offering a mix of solid salaries, employment levels, and opportunity scores for targeted job searches.
The typical education requirement for orthotists and prosthetists is a master’s degree, indicating a graduate-level commitment to enter the field. This education aligns with the need for strong skills in science, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making. Comfort with computers and information technology is also important, reflecting the technical aspects of the work. Interpersonal skills and customer service play a central role in working effectively with patients and other professionals, while writing and reading skills support documentation and communication. Project management capabilities help in organizing cases and coordinating activities over time, and adaptability supports working in changing environments. Creativity and innovation further contribute to developing and refining solutions. Together, this mix of advanced education and diverse skills suggests that the field is well-suited to individuals who enjoy combining scientific knowledge with people-focused and analytical work.
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