Salary AI Book a Demo

Orthopedic Technician Salary in the United States

How much does an Orthopedic Technician make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Orthopedic Technician in the United States is $50,793 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, an Orthopedic Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,083
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $43,358 to $56,179
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $36,589
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Orthopedic Technician Salaries

An Orthopedic Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Orthopedic Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Orthopedic Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $48,352
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $48,574
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,195
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,446
  • Expert (over 8 years): $53,607
Levels Salary
Entry Level Orthopedic Technician$48,352
Intermediate Level Orthopedic Technician$48,574
Senior Level Orthopedic Technician$51,195
Specialist Level Orthopedic Technician$53,446
Expert Level Orthopedic Technician$53,607
View as Graph

How Do Orthopedic Technician Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Orthopedic Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $56,238.
  • California: $56,025.
  • Massachusetts: $55,278.

Top Paying Cities for Orthopedic Technicians

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $64,065
  • San Francisco: $63,364
  • Oakland: $62,028

What Skills Can Increase an Orthopedic Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 3.24% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Aseptic Technique (Mentioned in 2.65% Job Postings): Aseptic Technique is the effort taken to keep patients as free from dangerous hospital micro-organisms as possible. The method is used to prevent the contamination of open and vulnerable sites where such micro organisms could infect.
  • Blood Pressure (Mentioned in 1.91% Job Postings): Blood pressure is how powerfully your blood travels through your blood vessels. Basically, a doctor or nurse measures blood pressure with an inflatable cuff (sphygmomanometer) that is attached to a small gauge, the cuff wraps around upper arm.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 3.24%
Aseptic Technique 2.65%
Blood Pressure 1.91%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Orthopedic Technician's salary.

  • Instructing: Can increase your salary by up to 28%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Instructing $65,015
28%
Initiative $57,904
14%
Communication Skills $57,904
14%
Get Latest Data

Orthopedic Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Orthopedic Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $53,911. While startup companies pay approximate $45,910.

Orthopedic Technician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $45,910
Growth Stage 51~500 $48,476
Established 501~5000 $52,136
Enterprise 5000+ $53,911

Orthopedic Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Orthopedic Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Orthopedic Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Orthopedic Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Orthopedic Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$60,952$29.020%

How Education impacts an Orthopedic Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Orthopedic Technician enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Orthopedic Technician with a Bachelor's Degree is between $49,271 and $52,763.

Orthopedic Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Orthopedic Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 46.9%
Associates 23.8%
Bachelors 24.6%
Masters 3.1%
Doctorate 0.8%
View as Graph

Orthopedic Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Orthopedic Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$43,358
Average $50,793/year
$56,179
$3,613
Average $4,233/month
$4,682
$834
Average $977/week
$1,080
$21
Average $24/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,179 $4,682 $1,080 $27
Average $50,793 $4,233 $977 $24
25th Percentile $43,358 $3,613 $834 $21

Orthopedic Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Orthopedic Technician

Next Role

For an Orthopedic Technician, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Medical Device Lab Technician role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $54,674 - a projected growth of 8% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Orthopedic Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Orthopedic Technician

Here are companies hiring for Orthopedic Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Orthopedic Technician Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Orthopedic Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Orthopedic Technician

1. Where can an Orthopedic Technician earn the most?

An Orthopedic Technician's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Orthopedic Technician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Orthopedic Technician is $64,065.

2. What is the highest pay for Orthopedic Technician?

The highest pay for Orthopedic Technician is $61,083.

3. What is the lowest pay for Orthopedic Technician?

The lowest pay for Orthopedic Technician is $36,589.

4. What are the responsibilities of Orthopedic Technician?

Applies and adjusts plaster casts and assembles and attaches orthopedic traction equipment and devices as directed by a physician. Sets up bed traction units or rigs special devices as required, and inspects and adjusts bandages and equipment. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent, completion of Orthopedic Technician training and certification program. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Orthopedic Technician?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Orthopedic Technician roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst