How to become a medical appliance technician

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What medical appliance technicians do

• 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.
• Lay out and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
• Service or repair machinery used in the fabrication of appliances.
• Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass.
• Mix pigments to match patients' skin coloring, according to formulas, and apply mixtures to orthotic or prosthetic devices.

Skills that matter most

• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Active Learning
• Writing
• Learning Strategies

Is medical appliance technician a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 6% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Arizona $72,760
• Pennsylvania $60,920
• Virginia $56,260
• New Hampshire $54,980
• Nebraska $54,770

Medical Appliance Technicians salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.