Prosthetists design and manufacture medical supportive devices that fit each patient’s measurement. These devices include artificial limbs (arms, hands, legs, and feet), braces, and other medical or surgical devices.
Prosthetists make around $83,568 to $175,540 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
In this article, we’ll take a holistic look at how much a prosthetist makes annually and all other key details you need to know about the profession.
Table of contents
What Does A Prosthetist Do?
Prosthetist designs and fit artificial limbs, braces, and appliances for patients with physical disabilities based on physicians’ specifications. They examine patients and prepare casts or models to assist with the construction of the appliance and the selection of required materials/components.
They are trained to use up-to-date digital imaging techniques and CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided modeling). In either role, prosthetists work with physicians, nurses, podiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and medical appliance technicians.
READ ALSO: Highest Paying Jobs In The Medical Field
Prosthetist Salary In The United States
The average Prosthetist salary in the United States is $83,568 as stated on salary.com, but the range typically falls between $69,251 and $98,033. This salary range can vary widely depending on many important factors like; education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
How Much Does A Prosthetist Make Annually?
The annual salary of a Certified Prosthetist Orthotist is $166,647 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $141,115 per year.
The estimated additional pay is $25,531 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit-sharing. The “Most Likely Range” portrays values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
READ ALSO: 15 Quick Certifications In The Medical Field That You Can Get Easily in 2023
Median Annual age Of A Prosthetics
According to The Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median annual wage for orthotics and prosthetists was $75,440 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $124,040.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for orthotists and prosthetists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing | $78,430 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 77,490 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 76,560 |
| Health and personal care stores | 64,550 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 60,600 |
How Much Does An Entry-Level Prosthetist Make?
Entry-level prosthetists earn an annual average of $20.06 per hour and $41,730 annually. They move on to junior-level orthotists and prosthetists here they earn an annual average of $55,710.
Top Companies For Prosthetists in the United States
| Company | Salary |
| Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare | $103,270 |
| Hanger | $99,931 |
| US Department of Veteran Affairs | $82,358 |
| Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic | $82,161 |
Related Post: How Much Does A Medical Coder Get Paid?
Prosthetists’s Salary By State
Here’s a tabular representation of a prosthetists salary by state according to ZipRecruiter.
| State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $91,906 | $7,659 | $1,767 | $44.19 |
| New Hampshire | $86,966 | $7,247 | $1,672 | $41.81 |
| Montana | $81,612 | $6,801 | $1,569 | $39.24 |
| Arizona | $80,884 | $6,740 | $1,555 | $38.89 |
| Wyoming | $80,237 | $6,686 | $1,543 | $38.58 |
| New Jersey | $80,198 | $6,683 | $1,542 | $38.56 |
| Massachusetts | $78,315 | $6,526 | $1,506 | $37.65 |
| West Virginia | $77,764 | $6,480 | $1,495 | $37.39 |
| Indiana | $77,737 | $6,478 | $1,495 | $37.37 |
| Hawaii | $77,596 | $6,466 | $1,492 | $37.31 |
| Tennessee | $77,541 | $6,462 | $1,491 | $37.28 |
| Nevada | $77,250 | $6,437 | $1,486 | $37.14 |
| Washington | $76,230 | $6,352 | $1,466 | $36.65 |
| Connecticut | $76,073 | $6,339 | $1,463 | $36.57 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,041 | $6,337 | $1,462 | $36.56 |
| Minnesota | $74,962 | $6,247 | $1,442 | $36.04 |
| Rhode Island | $74,767 | $6,231 | $1,438 | $35.95 |
| Alaska | $74,050 | $6,171 | $1,424 | $35.60 |
| Oregon | $73,420 | $6,118 | $1,412 | $35.30 |
| North Dakota | $72,901 | $6,075 | $1,402 | $35.05 |
| Wisconsin | $72,146 | $6,012 | $1,387 | $34.69 |
| Maryland | $71,941 | $5,995 | $1,383 | $34.59 |
| Ohio | $71,414 | $5,951 | $1,373 | $34.33 |
| Alabama | $70,775 | $5,898 | $1,361 | $34.03 |
| Iowa | $70,468 | $5,872 | $1,355 | $33.88 |
| Vermont | $70,299 | $5,858 | $1,352 | $33.80 |
| Virginia | $70,148 | $5,846 | $1,349 | $33.73 |
| California | $70,005 | $5,834 | $1,346 | $33.66 |
| Utah | $69,987 | $5,832 | $1,346 | $33.65 |
| Idaho | $69,485 | $5,790 | $1,336 | $33.41 |
| South Dakota | $69,102 | $5,759 | $1,329 | $33.22 |
| New Mexico | $69,041 | $5,753 | $1,328 | $33.19 |
| Florida | $68,778 | $5,732 | $1,323 | $33.07 |
| Nebraska | $68,490 | $5,708 | $1,317 | $32.93 |
| Delaware | $68,437 | $5,703 | $1,316 | $32.90 |
| Colorado | $67,249 | $5,604 | $1,293 | $32.33 |
| South Carolina | $66,978 | $5,581 | $1,288 | $32.20 |
| Kansas | $66,135 | $5,511 | $1,272 | $31.80 |
| Maine | $65,976 | $5,498 | $1,269 | $31.72 |
| Arkansas | $65,874 | $5,490 | $1,267 | $31.67 |
| Georgia | $65,791 | $5,483 | $1,265 | $31.63 |
| Mississippi | $65,242 | $5,437 | $1,255 | $31.37 |
| Oklahoma | $64,699 | $5,392 | $1,244 | $31.11 |
| Michigan | $64,621 | $5,385 | $1,243 | $31.07 |
| Kentucky | $63,819 | $5,318 | $1,227 | $30.68 |
| Illinois | $62,835 | $5,236 | $1,208 | $30.21 |
| Missouri | $61,613 | $5,134 | $1,185 | $29.62 |
| Texas | $61,347 | $5,112 | $1,180 | $29.49 |
| Louisiana | $60,542 | $5,045 | $1,164 | $29.11 |
| North Carolina | $56,259 | $4,688 | $1,082 | $27.05 |
Factors That Affects A Prosthetist’s Salary
A lot of factors come into play when considering how much a prosthetist can earn annually. Let’s take a look at them singularly.
1. Years of experience
The higher your number of years in practice, the higher your pay. What this entails, is that every year counts, and the best way to live to it is by outperforming the younger physicians in terms of knowledge and expertise.
2. Education
The match between your education and what’s normally required for your job usually affects your pay. Earning a degree from a top program typically has a positive influence on pay.
If you want to increase your earnings as a prosthetist doctor, you can take up advanced degree programs, attend seminars and do all it takes to increase your knowledge.
READ ALSO: 13 Best Physical Therapy Schools in California in 2023
3. Income Growth Rate
Although some specialties are historically paid at higher levels than others, the pace of income growth over many years often affects physician pay.
4. Geographic location
The average physician salary can vary notably from state to state. In our report, New York is the highest-paying state for Prosthetists with $91,906 average annual salary.
Job Outlook of Prosthetists
According to BLS, the employment of orthotics and prosthetists is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 1,000 openings for orthotics and prosthetists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retiring.
What Is The Work Environment Of A prosthetist Like?
Prosthetists and orthotists work for a variety of organizations within the healthcare field. These professionals may work in a clinical capacity or otherwise, depending on their areas of interest.
As a prosthetist doctor, you can find employment with ambulatory healthcare services organizations, medical equipment, and supplies manufacturing companies, health and personal care stores, public and private hospitals, universities, and the federal government. These professionals typically work a standard full-time schedule of 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
Depending on their exact work environment, prosthetists and orthotics may navigate exposure to certain occupational threats related to specific materials used in fabrication processes. These professionals can mitigate such hazards by following established safety procedures, such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like goggles, gloves, and face masks.
Most prosthetists and orthotics receive specialized training to prepare them to handle such hazards effectively.
FAQs On Prosthetist Salary
Individuals seeking employment as a Prosthetist or Orthotist must obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Prosthetics Orthotics or a Bachelor’s degree in another field and complete a one-year certificate program for each discipline pursued.
The job outlook for careers in prosthetics and orthotics is expected to increase by 17% by the year 2029. This is much higher than the national average for a lot of other career paths.
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) offers certification for orthotists and prosthetists. To earn certification, a candidate must complete a CAAHEP-accredited master’s program, an NCOPE-accredited residency program, and pass a series of three exams.
Entry-level prosthetists earn an annual average of $20.06 per hour and $41,730 annually
Conclusion
To become a prosthetist, you must complete a master’s degree in orthotics or prosthetics. These programs usually include courses in upper and lower extremity orthotics and prosthetics, spinal orthotics, plastics and other materials used for fabrication.
Master’s programs usually take 2 years to complete. Prospective students seeking a master’s degree may have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline if they have fulfilled required courses in science and math.
References
- bls.gov – Orthotists and Prosthetists
- ziprecruiter.com – What Is the Average Prosthetist Salary by State
- salary.com – Prosthetist/Orthotist Salary in the United States
- indeed.com – Prosthetist salary in the United States
We Also Recommend
- Construction Superintendent Salary In 2023: How Much Does Construction Superintendent Makes?
- Dental Hygienist Salary in Texas 2023 | How much does a Dental Hygienist earn in Texas
- How Much Does An Orthopedic Doctor Make?
- Data Analyst Salary in New York | 2023
- How Much Does A Nurse Practitioner Make In A Year?
