Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit and adapt medical devices such as braces and artificial limbs for patients with disabling conditions. Scanning and digital design tools are part of many clinics, but each device has to be fitted, adjusted and checked on a real patient over time.
The short answer: AI is not set to replace this hands-on clinical work. The ILO's 2025 index rates health professionals not elsewhere classified, the closest group, as not exposed, with a score of 0.20. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13 percent growth for orthotists and prosthetists from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 700 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed orthotists and prosthetists are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Health Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified | Not exposed | 0.20 |
| Medical and Dental Prosthetic Technicians | Not exposed | 0.18 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for orthotists and prosthetists, not scores for the job title itself. The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Orthotists and prosthetists | Grow 13% | About 700 |
The BLS projects employment to grow from 9,500 jobs in 2025 to 10,700 in 2035. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Drafting clinical notes and insurance paperwork.
- Processing scans for digital device design.
- Scheduling follow-up fittings.
What stays with orthotists and prosthetists
- Assessment: examining the patient and deciding what device will help.
- Fitting: adjusting a device until it is comfortable and works.
- Follow-up: changing devices as a patient's body and needs change.
- Checking AI help: generated notes and paperwork can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Digital scanning and design skills count for more, while assessment and fitting stay in the clinic with the patient. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace physical therapists?, will AI replace occupational therapists? and will AI replace medical equipment repairers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for orthotists and prosthetists at $81,110 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: master's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace prosthetists?
Unlikely in the near term. The closest ILO groups are not exposed, and the BLS projects 13 percent growth for orthotists and prosthetists from 2025 to 2035.
How many orthotists and prosthetists are there?
The BLS counts 9,500 jobs in 2025, projected to reach 10,700 in 2035.
How many openings are expected?
About 700 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS.
What can AI do in an orthotics clinic?
Mostly paperwork, scheduling and help with digital design. Assessment and fitting stay with the clinician.