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.
Also called: Arch Support Maker, Arch Support Technician (Arch Support Tech), Artificial Eye Maker, Artificial Limb Maker, Artificial Plastic Eye Maker, Brace Maker
Median pay
$48,030
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$36,510 – $75,740
People employed
11,280
Holland code
RIC
Realistic · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 4.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 5.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 6.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Long hours on your feet
Medical Appliance Technicians pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (40 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What medical appliance technicians do
- 01Take patients' body or limb measurements for use in device construction.
- 02Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- 03Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
- 04Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- 05Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.
- 06Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Administrative
- Engineering and Technology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from medical appliance technicians
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters83% · +7%
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders76% · 0%
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers74% · +12%
- Endoscopy Technicians73% · group pay
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic72% · −4%
Majors that lead here
- Orthotist/Prosthetist
- Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.