Orthotists and Prosthetists
SOC Code: 29-2091 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Design, measure, fit, and adapt orthopedic braces, appliances or prostheses, such as limbs or facial parts for patients with disabling conditions.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Orthotists and Prosthetists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $53,747 | $78,811 | $103,896 | $128,960 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $74,235 | $92,186 | $110,115 | $128,066 |
| Roanoke, VA | $54,059 | $78,686 | $103,314 | $127,941 |
| Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $53,685 | $78,166 | $102,648 | $127,130 |
| Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $53,560 | $77,376 | $101,192 | $125,008 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $68,619 | $86,133 | $103,646 | $121,160 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $49,754 | $73,424 | $97,074 | $120,744 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $52,437 | $75,171 | $97,906 | $120,640 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,573 | $87,693 | $103,813 | $119,933 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $71,074 | $87,194 | $103,293 | $119,413 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| CPO Services, Inc. | 9 | $58,293 |
| Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc. | 9 | $78,909 |
| Bionic Prosthetics and Orthotics Group LLC | 7 | $79,575 |
| Bionic Prosthetics and Orthotics Group, LLC | 3 | $70,333 |
| Eschen Prosthetic and Orthotic Laboratories | 3 | $103,333 |
| Bionic Prosthetics & Orthotics Group, LLC | 2 | $97,500 |
| OPTEC USA, INC. | 2 | $60,000 |
| Christy Sports LLC | 2 | $54,080 |
| BASSAM NAHHAS DENTAL LAB LLC | 1 | $60,486 |
| Cresap Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc. | 1 | $62,000 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | $62,500 |
| 2021 | 5 | $68,800 |
| 2022 | 2 | $81,568 |
| 2023 | 5 | $62,983 |
| 2024 | 16 | $76,196 |
| 2025 | 17 | $67,812 |
| 2026 | 5 | $90,800 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 | |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.6 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.3 |
| Design | 4.0 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 4.0 |
| English Language | 3.9 |
| Psychology | 3.9 |
| Mechanical | 3.8 |
| Education and Training | 3.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 90.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 5.0% |
| Master's degree | 5.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Examine, interview, and measure patients to determine their appliance needs and to identify factors that could affect appliance fit.
- 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.
- Design orthopedic and prosthetic devices, based on physicians' prescriptions and examination and measurement of patients.
- Maintain patients' records.
- Make and modify plaster casts of areas to be fitted with prostheses or orthoses to guide the device construction process.
- Select materials and components to be used, based on device design.
- Confer with physicians to formulate specifications and prescriptions for orthopedic or prosthetic devices.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Autodesk AutoCAD Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Alibre Design American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association CodingPro Artsco OrthoPro Complete Computer aided manufacturing CAM software Computer graphics software Email software Futura International O.P.S. Gait analysis software
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