# Orthotists and Prosthetists

> Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthotists-and-prosthetists
- SOC code: 29-2091.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $81,110 (10th percentile $46,350, 90th percentile $119,810)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +12.9%
- Openings a year: 700
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RIS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 83 |
| Investigative (I) | 68 |
| Artistic (A) | 17 |
| Social (S) | 55 |
| Enterprising (E) | 9 |
| Conventional (C) | 43 |

## What you'd do

- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 88/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 87/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 87/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 79/100)
- Getting Information (importance 78/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 78/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, Design, Therapy and Counseling, English Language, Psychology, Mechanical, Education and Training, Production and Processing, Administration and Management

## Also called

American Board Certified Orthotist (ABC Orthotist), Artificial Limb Fitter, Board Orthotist, Board Prosthetist, Certified Orthotic Fitter, Certified Orthotist (CO), Certified Pedorthist, Certified Prosthetist (CP), Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO), Licensed Orthotist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5123) (CIP 5123, 591 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Ithaca College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ithaca-college-1313) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | not reported | $76,766 | $25,000 |
| [University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pittsburgh-pittsburgh-campus-3019) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $43,925 | $75,950 | $23,307 |
| [Worcester State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-state-university-3304) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | not reported | $74,386 | $25,500 |
| [Saint Francis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-francis-university-2301) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | not reported | $72,821 | $27,000 |
| [University of New Hampshire-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-new-hampshire-main-campus-2980) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | not reported | $72,625 | $27,000 |
| [Boston University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-university-286) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $44,945 | $72,566 | $17,110 |
| [Duquesne University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duquesne-university-839) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | not reported | $72,059 | $26,000 |
| [Saint Louis University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-louis-university-2312) | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | not reported | $70,351 | $23,244 |

## Related careers

- [Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthopedic-surgeons-except-pediatric): $358,550 median pay
- [Medical Appliance Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-appliance-technicians): $48,030 median pay
- [Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation-physicians): $265,930 median pay
- [Podiatrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/podiatrists): $160,300 median pay
- [Audiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/audiologists): $95,780 median pay
- [Orthodontists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthodontists): $289,140 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.