Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Medical Appliance Technicians
Medical Appliance Technicians construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Table of contents
What they do
Medical Appliance Technicians construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
- Drill and tap holes for rivets and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices.
- Read prescriptions or specifications to determine the type of product or device to be fabricated and the materials and tools that will be required.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Medical Appliance Technicians repair, modify or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications. They make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools.
A typical day for a Medical Appliance Technician will also include:
- Test medical supportive devices for proper alignment, movement, or biomechanical stability, using meters and alignment fixtures.
- Layout and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
- Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients’ torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns.
- Polish artificial limbs, braces, or supports, using grinding and buffing wheels.
- Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Medical Appliance Technicians also service or repair machinery used in the fabrication of appliances. They may also mix pigments to match patients’ skin coloring, according to formulas, and apply mixtures to orthotic or prosthetic devices.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Medical Appliance Technicians instruct patients in the use of prosthetic or orthotic devices. They might also bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components.
In addition, they fit appliances onto patients and make any necessary adjustments.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them layout and mark dimensions of parts, using templates and precision measuring instruments.
To some Medical Appliance Technicians, it is also their responsibility to repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
78% said they were satisfied with their job and 90% said they found their job meaningful.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Salary is below average.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Medical Appliance Technicians with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $27,100 to $33,350 per year or $13 to $16 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $69,850 | $34 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $54,240 | $26 |
| Median | $41,750 | $20 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $33,350 | $16 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $27,100 | $13 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Medical Appliance Technicians based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Hospitals | $59790 | $28.74 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $58750 | $28.24 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $48620 | $23.38 |
| Offices of Physicians | $48540 | $23.34 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $47850 | $23.01 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $47570 | $22.87 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $47460 | $22.82 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $45830 | $22.03 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $45750 | $22.00 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $42830 | $20.59 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Medical Appliance Technicians work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Medical Appliance Technicians including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 8440 | $45750 | $22.00 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | 1050 | $40160 | $19.31 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 760 | $48620 | $23.38 |
| Offices of Physicians | 630 | $48540 | $23.34 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 610 | $45830 | $22.03 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 600 | $47850 | $23.01 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 580 | $42830 | $20.59 |
| Employment Services | 200 | $32340 | $15.55 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 130 | $59790 | $28.74 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 130 | $58750 | $28.24 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
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Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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