Orthopedic technicians help repair damaged limbs.
Employed by orthopedic surgeons, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, orthopedic technicians help patients recover movement in their limbs. Job opportunities are expected to increase due to technology advancement and a jump in diseases that affect limbs.
Identification
Orthopedic technicians, also called orthopedic technologists, help orthopedic physicians with the creation and maintenance of orthopedic tools like prosthetics, splints, braces and casts. Training in orthopedic technology via an associate’s degree or certificate program provides entry into the field.
California Compensation
Salary.com reports that as of July 2010, California orthopedic technician salaries range from $32,590 to $55,527 in the Oakland area, and between $29,512 and $50,285 in the San Diego metropolitan area.
Outlook
Employment in the field is expected to grow by 14 percent between 2008 and 2018. "Medical appliance technicians will grow at 11 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, because of the increasing prevalence of the two leading causes of limb loss-diabetes and cardiovascular disease," states the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Considerations
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for devices like braces and orthopedic footwear will increase, and advances in technology will heighten demand for prostheses. The bureau suggests that competition for these jobs is minimal, due to lack of awareness and low starting wages.
Experience
PayScale indicates that eight percent of orthopedic technicians have been on the job for less than a year, with the majority (40 percent) employed for between one and four years.
Tags: Bureau Labor, Bureau Labor Statistics, grow percent, Labor Statistics, orthopedic technicians
