Headline risk
10%
Low RiskMedical appliance technicians
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices such as braces, orthotics and prosthetic devices, joints, arch supports, and other surgical and medical appliances.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 47,060
Employment 2024
12.0K
Projected Change (2024–34)
3.7%
Openings (2024–34)
1.5K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Overall employment of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Bend, form, and shape fabric or material to conform to prescribed contours of structural components. AI use: 0%
- 2. Make orthotic or prosthetic devices, using materials such as thermoplastic and thermosetting materials, metal alloys and leather, and hand or power tools. AI use: 0%
- 3. Construct or receive casts or impressions of patients' torsos or limbs for use as cutting and fabrication patterns. AI use: 0%
- 4. Cover or pad metal or plastic structures or devices, using coverings such as rubber, leather, felt, plastic, or fiberglass. AI use: 0%
- 5. Repair, modify, or maintain medical supportive devices, such as artificial limbs, braces, or surgical supports, according to specifications. AI use: 0%
- 6. Drill and tap holes for rivets, and glue, weld, bolt, or rivet parts together to form prosthetic or orthotic devices. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 42.3 · 75K employed
Under 25: 7% · 25–54: 67% · 55+: 25%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
major_group_fallback · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians make or repair dentures, eyeglasses, prosthetics, and related products.
Dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians usually work in clean, well-lighted spaces and may spend time standing or bending. Most work full time, and schedules may vary.
To enter the occupation, dental or ophthalmic laboratory technicians or medical appliance technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They typically receive on-the-job training to attain competency.
The median annual wage for dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians was $45,820 in May 2024.
Overall employment of dental and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and medical appliance technicians is projected to grow 1 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.