Prosthetist/Orthotist Salary?

[woox]

I was consider going Dental but my advisor told me my skillset overlaps Prosthetist/Orthotist...I was wondering how is this field in medicine?

Also what is the average salary, according to this site it says around $65k which is kinda low
http://www1.salary.com/Prosthetist-Orthotist-Salary.html

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[Eilat87]

I don't believe Prothetists/Orthotists are physicians or advanced degree health practitioners like Dentists so they don't command the same high salaries.

 

[fozzy40]

Here is an old thread on P&O: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=640914

Anyhow, I think prosthetics and orthotics are an awesome field! Prosthetists, orthotists, and pedorthotists have a very interesting skill set. They have a unique knowledge base on biomechanics, functional anatomy, kinesiology, and engineering. They have a good amount of patient interaction ranging from pediatrics to octogenarians. If you are biomechanically minded, these are great fields to look into.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

You can go into prosthetics or orthotics, and in some cases, both. You can open your own business or work for someone else, such as an O&P company (Hanger is a national one, e.g.) or for a hospital or large medical clinic.

Salaries will vary widely. In some places, they are serving mostly medicaid populations and have trouble making ends meet. In others, they cater to affluent populations and do very well. Most are in the middle.

Much of O&P is more theory and trial-and-error than true science, as the biomechanics of locomotion and movement are incredibly complex, and no one can truly balance everything in their mind. Still, most O&Ps seem to like their careers.

If you let average and/or potential salaries decide your career choice, you will be unhappy no matter what you do. Find what makes you happy and the money will take care of itself.