Orthotists and prosthetists
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
Orthotists and prosthetists design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions. The role reports a median annual salary of $78,310 in the US and is projected to grow 13% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Master's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.34 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £29,931 a year for Medical and dental technicians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £26,955 to £36,120 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 3213). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Orthotists and prosthetists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification Bachelor in Prosthetics and Orthotics (B.P.O.), 4.5 years; or Diploma in Prosthetics and Orthotics (2 years)[1]
- 2 · Registration Registration on the RCI Central Rehabilitation Register[2][3]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- Rehabilitation Council of India — Training programmes (regular mode) (read on 2026-09-27)
- Rehabilitation Council of India — Categories under Section 19 (Central Rehabilitation Register) (read on 2026-09-27)
- Rehabilitation Council of India — home (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Design
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Psychology
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
What you'd actually do
- Fit, test, and evaluate devices on patients, and make adjustments for proper fit, function, and comfort.
- Instruct patients in the use and care of orthoses and prostheses.
- Maintain patients' records.
- Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
- Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
- Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Orthotists and prosthetists do?
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
How much does Orthotists and prosthetists earn?
The median annual salary for Orthotists and prosthetists in the US is $78,310.
What is the job outlook for Orthotists and prosthetists?
The role is projected to grow 13% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 10,100 workers.
How do I become orthotists and prosthetists?
The typical entry education is a Master's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Orthotists and prosthetists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Writing, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Learning. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Orthotists and prosthetists?
Our AI-durability model gives Orthotists and prosthetists a score of 0.34 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Orthotists and prosthetists has high barrier to entry — highly gated — a graduate degree or extended training/apprenticeship is typically required.