Medical Appliance Technicians
SOC code 51-9082 · O*NET-SOC 51-9082.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Medical Appliance Technicians pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$48,030
a year
Hourly
$23.09
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$52,730
$25.35 per hour
Middle 50%
$42,210 – $60,580
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,510 – $75,740
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
11,280
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,510
- $17.55/hr
- 25th percentile
- $42,210
- $20.29/hr
- Median percentile
- $48,030
- $23.09/hr
- 75th percentile
- $60,580
- $29.12/hr
- 90th percentile
- $75,740
- $36.41/hr
What does a medical appliance technician do?
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Take patients' body or limb measurements for use in device construction.
- Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
- Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools required.
- Instruct patients in use of prosthetic or orthotic devices.
- 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.
How to become a medical appliance technician
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a medical appliance technician earn?
The national median is $48,030 a year. The full range runs from $36,510 at the 10th percentile to $75,740 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a medical appliance technician without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Reading Comprehension3.6/5
- Active Listening3.6/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.3/5
- Production and Processing4.2/5
- Design3.5/5
- Administrative3.4/5
- Engineering and Technology3.3/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Quality Control Analysis, Troubleshooting, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Operations Monitoring.