How much does a medical device maker make?
a year · about $23 an hour
A typical medical device maker in the United States makes $48,030 a year, about $23 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They read a work order and use measurements or a limb cast to shape plastic, metal, or leather into a brace or artificial limb. Then they polish and test it, fix problems, and adjust it for a safe, comfortable fit.
Did you know? A technician may use a cast or impression of someone's limb as a pattern to make a one-of-a-kind brace or artificial limb.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,510 and $75,740How do you become one?
In the United States, finish high school or earn a GED; science, math, and art classes help, and a technical-school program in orthotics or prosthetics is another option. Most learn on the job, and optional certification can help with advancement.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the US, experienced technicians with in-demand skills may earn more, and optional certification can help show their training. Pay also varies by employer and location; more complex devices and different work hours can change what people earn.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Arizona ($72,760), lowest in Kansas ($37,090).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,510 | $48,030 | $75,740 | about 11,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $72,760 | about 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,920 | about 200 |
| Massachusetts | $59,810 | — |
| Colorado | $59,560 | — |
| Virginia | $56,260 | about 260 |
Official definition: Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/production/dental-and-ophthalmic-laboratory-technicians-and-medi
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-9082.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes519082.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY