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.
- O*NET-SOC code
51-9082.00 - Preparation Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$48,030
Employment, U.S.11,280
Median hourly wage$23.09
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,510 | $42,210 | $48,030 | $60,580 | $75,740 |
By state (40)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 300 | $72,760 | 1.29 |
| Arkansas | 60 | $39,450 | 0.66 |
| California | 1,300 | $51,530 | 0.99 |
| Colorado | $59,560 | ||
| Connecticut | 130 | $54,430 | 1.05 |
| Florida | 1,800 | $46,110 | 2.49 |
| Georgia | 50 | $37,440 | 0.15 |
| Idaho | 40 | $48,020 | 0.69 |
| Illinois | 790 | $46,370 | 1.80 |
| Indiana | 130 | $45,820 | 0.58 |
| Iowa | 80 | $51,790 | 0.71 |
| Kansas | $37,090 | ||
| Kentucky | $45,690 | ||
| Louisiana | $50,770 | ||
| Maine | 30 | $47,670 | 0.72 |
| Maryland | 160 | $46,940 | 0.79 |
| Massachusetts | $59,810 | ||
| Michigan | 480 | $49,140 | 1.51 |
| Minnesota | $53,750 | ||
| Mississippi | 110 | $45,100 | 1.29 |
| Missouri | 350 | $46,750 | 1.62 |
| Nebraska | 170 | $54,770 | 2.29 |
| Nevada | 90 | $45,870 | 0.80 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $54,980 | 0.76 |
| New Jersey | 310 | $52,400 | 0.99 |
| New York | 720 | $48,080 | 1.03 |
| North Carolina | 600 | $54,650 | 1.67 |
| Ohio | 420 | $45,710 | 1.04 |
| Oklahoma | 110 | $49,870 | 0.90 |
| Oregon | 130 | $46,450 | 0.88 |
| Pennsylvania | 200 | $60,920 | 0.46 |
| Rhode Island | $49,100 | ||
| South Carolina | 200 | $42,230 | 1.18 |
| South Dakota | 30 | $52,950 | 0.93 |
| Tennessee | 370 | $44,700 | 1.55 |
| Texas | 310 | $46,430 | 0.30 |
| Utah | 170 | $44,110 | 1.31 |
| Virginia | 260 | $56,260 | 0.87 |
| Washington | 310 | $48,030 | 1.20 |
| Wisconsin | 100 | $48,890 | 0.46 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 3 | 0.955 |
| 2 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | 1-2 | 0.953 |
| 3 | Photonics Technicians | 3 | 0.952 |
| 4 | Dental Laboratory Technicians | 1-2 | 0.951 |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 3 | 0.951 |
| 6 | Tool and Die Makers | 3 | 0.951 |
| 7 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 8 | Etchers and Engravers | 1-2 | 0.950 |
| 9 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 1-2 | 0.949 |
| 10 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | 1-2 | 0.949 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Medical Appliance Technicians, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | Operations Monitoring | 1.00 | 0.949 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 1.00 | 0.948 |
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | Operations Monitoring | 0.88 | 0.947 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | Operations Monitoring | 0.88 | 0.936 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | Science | 1.62 | 0.934 |
| Biomass Plant Technicians | Operations Monitoring | 0.88 | 0.930 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Medical Appliance Technicians, excluding software Medical Appliance Technicians already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software | 6 of 20 | 30.8x |
| Dassault Systemes SolidWorks | 7 of 20 | 5.6x |
| Dassault Systemes CATIA | 7 of 20 | 5.4x |
| G-code | 3 of 20 | 19.8x |
| CNC Mastercam | 3 of 20 | 17.3x |
| SAP software | 12 of 20 | 2.0x |
| Siemens NX | 3 of 20 | 13.8x |
| PTC Creo Parametric | 4 of 20 | 4.3x |
| Bentley MicroStation | 3 of 20 | 2.9x |
| The MathWorks MATLAB | 4 of 20 | 1.7x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.75 | 1.38 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 1.00 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.25 | not rated |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | 4.26 | 3.49 |
| Production and Processing | 4.17 | 4.27 |
| Design | 3.53 | 3.75 |
| Administrative | 3.42 | 3.88 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.26 | 3.74 |
| English Language | 3.22 | 3.09 |
| Administration and Management | 3.16 | 3.70 |
| Mathematics | 3.09 | 3.71 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2.86 | 2.85 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.68 | 2.25 |
| Education and Training | 2.65 | 3.05 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.62 | 3.18 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.40 | 2.35 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.40 | 1.79 |
| Biology | 2.36 | 1.71 |
| Physics | 2.31 | 2.44 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.04 | 1.51 |
| Building and Construction | 2.01 | 2.27 |
| Law and Government | 1.89 | 1.56 |
| Psychology | 1.85 | 1.45 |
| Chemistry | 1.79 | 2.07 |
| Telecommunications | 1.78 | 1.14 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.75 | 1.15 |
| Transportation | 1.73 | 1.35 |
| Fine Arts | 1.72 | 1.49 |
| Communications and Media | 1.68 | 1.18 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.66 | 1.18 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.56 | 1.09 |
| Foreign Language | 1.41 | not rated |
| Geography | 1.40 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.38 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.22 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.16 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Near Vision | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Visualization | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.88 | 3.62 |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Information Ordering | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Oral Expression | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.62 | 3.50 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.62 | 3.25 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Control Precision | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Written Expression | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Depth Perception | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Originality | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Selective Attention | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Far Vision | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Number Facility | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Static Strength | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Reaction Time | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Memorization | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Rate Control | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Extent Flexibility | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Response Orientation | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Stamina | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.62 | 1.00 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.62 | 1.00 |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.12 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Autodesk AutoCAD hot
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Footmaxx Metascan software
- Gait analysis software
- Ohio Willow Wood OMEGA Tracer System
- Orthotic fabrication software
- Seattle Systems Shapemaker
- SoftSource CADview
- Vorum Research Corporation CANFIT-PLUS
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville, FL | 110 | 10.14 | $35,170 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 220 | 3.93 | $46,610 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 340 | 3.21 | $46,210 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 150 | 2.87 | $49,100 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 290 | 2.57 | $47,340 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 120 | 2.08 | $44,110 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 640 | 1.95 | $47,310 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 100 | 1.80 | $56,490 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 170 | 1.78 | $46,750 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 120 | 1.54 | $48,520 |