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Job outlook for orthotists in the United States
Are orthotist jobs in demand?
Orthotist job and salary trends over time
Orthotist jobs over time
Orthotist job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,132 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,038 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,069 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 960 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 852 | 0.00% |
Average orthotist salary over time
Orthotist salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,238 | $25.11 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $50,913 | $24.48 | --1.0% |
| 2023 | $51,442 | $24.73 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $49,298 | $23.70 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $48,844 | $23.48 | +1.9% |
Orthotist jobs by state
Most common states for orthotists
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,536,653 | 11 | 0% |
| 2 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 6 | 0% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 5 | 0% |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 5 | 0% |
| 5 | New York | 19,849,399 | 4 | 0% |
| 6 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 4 | 0% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3 | 0% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 2 | 0% |
| 9 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2 | 0% |
| 10 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 2 | 0% |
| 11 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 1 | 0% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1 | 0% |
| 13 | Alaska | 739,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for orthotists
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City | 1 | 1% | $41,152 |
| 2 | Silver Spring | 1 | 1% | $58,056 |
| 3 | Wilmington | 1 | 1% | $74,291 |
| 4 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $37,960 |
| 5 | Plano | 1 | 0% | $40,596 |
Orthotist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of orthotist experts
NCOPE
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Orthotist job market given the pandemic?
Chris Robinson: The pandemic has refined the values for workers and employers alike. For instance, employees may value flexibility in the work setting or hours over higher compensation. Furthermore, the belief that a position “absolutely required the employee to be physically present” has been challenged, and often, new approaches enabled effective remote work. Given the opportunity to work remotely, this has also opened up the talent pools for many positions, as geographic proximity is not a necessity in many more instances than seen before COVID-19. For employees who must be physically present to perform their jobs, employers have been more open to allowing employees different work schedules, such as electing to work four 10 hour shifts versus the traditional 8-hour day every single weekday.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Orthotists in the next 3-5 years?
Chris Robinson: I am of the mindset that technology isn’t a separate concept, but something becoming deeply interwoven into our day-to-day lives. On the business side, I feel access to real-time data will become the relative norm, enabling employees at all levels to not only have access to critical data, but have it presented in a meaningful way. The term “data” brings with it a certain stigma, and to some, reflections of giant spreadsheets of data. A giant spreadsheet may contain critical data, but it must be visualized in a way that allows a person to quickly draw an appropriate conclusion. From a physical goods standpoint, additive manufacturing is no longer something exclusive to the prototyping and enthusiast community, but something accessible across professions. I would not be surprised if 3D printers were integrated into retailers the same way 1-hour photo labs are.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Orthotists in the next 5 years?
Chris Robinson: While I do not have a crystal ball, the value that orthotic & prosthetic professionals bring to an interdisciplinary health care team cannot be ignored. The same way a pharmacist guides treatment to the most appropriate prescription for a clinical problem, the O&P; professional has the knowledge and training to develop treatment plans for conditions such as pain, congenital deformities, or difficulty with walking. I feel any healthcare provider that can empower patients to participate in their day-to-day activities, return to work, or even enjoy recreational activities will have a strong future. The most recent workforce demand study, funded by NCOPE and AOPA in 2015, identified a likely increase in demand for O&P; professionals at all levels of education, from associate to master’s degree trained practitioners.