29 Series · SOC 29-2091
Orthotists and Prosthetists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $81,110
- Median / year
- +3.6%
- 2024→2025
- $119,810
- Top 10% earn
- +13.3%
- Growth '24–'34
- 9,390
- Estimated US jobs
Orthotists and Prosthetists earn a median of $81,110 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $81,110, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $46,350 (10th percentile) to $119,810 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 9,390 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is New Jersey ($118,950).
The pay verdict
Orthotists and Prosthetists earn a median of $81,110, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 74% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #45 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 13.3% by 2034.
- $81,110
- Median annual wage
- Top 26%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #45 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 2.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Jersey at $118,950. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Orthotists and Prosthetists moved from $68,410 in May 2019 to $81,110 in May 2025 (+18.6%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Orthotists and Prosthetists sits -5.9 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Orthotists and Prosthetists (SOC 29-2091) has a national median of $81,110 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $46,350 to $119,810, and the published mean is $83,740. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 9,390 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 45 state or territory areas and 57 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $78,310 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $81,110 in May 2025, a rise of $2,800 (+3.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +13.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as much faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 900 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Master's degree as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as internship/residency. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Jersey pays the highest state median at $118,950, which is +47% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $108,110. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$81,110
per year
Median Hourly
$38.99/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$83,740
average
Employment
9,390
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Orthotists and Prosthetists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$81,110 Top 26% higher than 74% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 (this entry) | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$81,110 · 74th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Orthotists and Prosthetists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
- Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
- Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
- Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
- Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
- Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
- Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
- Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
- Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
- Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
- Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
- Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
- Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
- Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
- Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
- Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
- Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
- Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
- Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
- Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
- Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
- Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
- Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
- Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590
- Orthotists and Prosthetists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.3%, Median annual wage $81110
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+13.3%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
900
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+1,300
10,100 (2024) → 11,500 (2034)
Typical Education
Master's degree
On-the-Job Training
Internship/residency
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Orthotists and Prosthetists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Repair, rebuild, and modify prosthetic and orthopedic appliances.
- ▸ Construct and fabricate appliances, or supervise others constructing the appliances.
- ▸ Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process.
- ▸ Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Orthotists and Prosthetists pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $64,430 |
| 2016 | $65,630 |
| 2017 | $66,240 |
| 2018 | $69,120 |
| 2019 | $68,410 |
| 2020 | $70,190 |
| 2021 | $75,440 |
| 2022 | $77,070 |
| 2023 | $78,100 |
| 2024 | $78,310 |
| 2025 | $81,110 |
2015 median
$64,430
2025 median
$81,110
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$12,700 (+18.6%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+2.9%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $64,430 | First banked release | 7,100 |
| May 2016 | $65,630 | +1.9% | 7,500 |
| May 2017 | $66,240 | +0.9% | 7,840 |
| May 2018 | $69,120 | +4.3% | 8,830 |
| May 2019 | $68,410 | Classification break | 9,830 |
| May 2020 | $70,190 | +2.6% | 9,550 |
| May 2021 | $75,440 | +7.5% | 10,410 |
| May 2022 | $77,070 | +2.2% | 9,150 |
| May 2023 | $78,100 | +1.3% | 8,820 |
| May 2024 | $78,310 | +0.3% | 9,930 |
| May 2025 | $81,110 | +3.6% | 9,390 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $64,430 in May 2015 to $81,110 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2.9% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 9,830 in May 2019 to 9,390 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $118,950 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $105,240 | +30% above national |
| 3 | Utah | $96,530 | +19% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $95,030 | +17% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $93,790 | +16% above national |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $93,350 | +15% above national |
| 7 | Virginia | $92,930 | +15% above national |
| 8 | California | $91,820 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $89,860 | +11% above national |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $89,710 | +11% above national |
| 11 | New York | $89,610 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Illinois | $89,180 | +10% above national |
| 13 | Iowa | $87,300 | +8% above national |
| 14 | Oklahoma | $83,780 | +3% above national |
| 15 | North Carolina | $82,190 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $81,460 | same as national |
| 17 | Florida | $81,370 | same as national |
| 18 | Maine | $81,230 | same as national |
| 19 | West Virginia | $80,860 | same as national |
| 20 | South Dakota | $80,760 | same as national |
| 21 | Mississippi | $80,500 | 1% below national |
| 22 | Nevada | $80,390 | 1% below national |
| 23 | South Carolina | $79,990 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Arkansas | $78,850 | 3% below national |
| 25 | Missouri | $78,100 | 4% below national |
| 26 | Texas | $77,220 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Connecticut | $77,030 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Colorado | $76,720 | 5% below national |
| 29 | Alabama | $76,400 | 6% below national |
| 30 | Georgia | $75,920 | 6% below national |
| 31 | Michigan | $75,810 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Minnesota | $75,530 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Louisiana | $75,460 | 7% below national |
| 34 | Kansas | $74,030 | 9% below national |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $70,400 | 13% below national |
| 36 | Arizona | $67,350 | 17% below national |
| 37 | Indiana | $66,180 | 18% below national |
| 38 | Puerto Rico | $65,360 | 19% below national |
| 39 | Tennessee | $65,170 | 20% below national |
| 40 | Ohio | $64,870 | 20% below national |
| 41 | Kentucky | $64,730 | 20% below national |
| 42 | New Mexico | $62,970 | 22% below national |
| 43 | North Dakota | $62,570 | 23% below national |
| 44 | Nebraska | $61,290 | 24% below national |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $44,080 | 46% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 57 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $108,110 | +33% above national |
| 2 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $107,520 | +33% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $106,990 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $105,420 | +30% above national |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $103,070 | +27% above national |
| 6 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,230 | +25% above national |
| 7 | Roanoke, VA | $98,380 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $98,320 | +21% above national |
| 9 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,290 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Iowa City, IA | $95,290 | +17% above national |
| 11 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $95,030 | +17% above national |
| 12 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $93,600 | +15% above national |
| 13 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $92,490 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $91,820 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $91,730 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $91,220 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $90,160 | +11% above national |
| 18 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $89,620 | +10% above national |
| 19 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $89,290 | +10% above national |
| 20 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $89,230 | +10% above national |
| 21 | Richmond, VA | $87,530 | +8% above national |
| 22 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $85,550 | +5% above national |
| 23 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $84,990 | +5% above national |
| 24 | Worcester, MA | $84,930 | +5% above national |
| 25 | Oklahoma City, OK | $83,780 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Rochester, NY | $83,770 | +3% above national |
| 27 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $83,090 | +2% above national |
| 28 | Springfield, MA | $82,970 | +2% above national |
| 29 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,830 | +2% above national |
| 30 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,540 | +1% above national |
| 31 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $81,260 | same as national |
| 32 | Ann Arbor, MI | $81,140 | same as national |
| 33 | Jacksonville, FL | $81,110 | same as national |
| 34 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $80,600 | 1% below national |
| 35 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $80,550 | 1% below national |
| 36 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $80,390 | 1% below national |
| 37 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $79,080 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $77,550 | 4% below national |
| 39 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $76,990 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $76,880 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $76,720 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $75,810 | 7% below national |
| 43 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $75,810 | 7% below national |
| 44 | Cleveland, OH | $74,560 | 8% below national |
| 45 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $72,980 | 10% below national |
| 46 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $70,770 | 13% below national |
| 47 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $67,350 | 17% below national |
| 48 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $65,290 | 20% below national |
| 49 | Omaha, NE-IA | $63,030 | 22% below national |
| 50 | Pittsburgh, PA | $62,970 | 22% below national |
| 51 | Columbus, OH | $62,550 | 23% below national |
| 52 | Birmingham, AL | $61,780 | 24% below national |
| 53 | Akron, OH | $61,450 | 24% below national |
| 54 | Lincoln, NE | $61,290 | 24% below national |
| 55 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $61,140 | 25% below national |
| 56 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $59,390 | 27% below national |
| 57 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $39,100 | 52% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Acupuncturists
SOC 29-1291
Anesthesiologists
SOC 29-1211
Athletic Trainers
SOC 29-9091
Audiologists
SOC 29-1181
Cardiologists
SOC 29-1212
Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($81,110 here) and reported employment (9,390 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Orthotists and Prosthetists make? ▼
Where does Orthotists and Prosthetists pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Orthotists and Prosthetists the most? ▼
What education do Orthotists and Prosthetists need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Orthotists and Prosthetists? ▼
Is Orthotists and Prosthetists a good career? ▼
How does Orthotists and Prosthetists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Orthotists and Prosthetists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Orthotists and Prosthetists pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $99,990/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New Jersey leads at $118,950/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.