Prevailing Wage for Medical Appliance Technicians
Prevailing wages for Medical Appliance Technicians under SOC 51-9082 are set by DOL using Occupational Employment Survey data across more than 500 metros. Whether your offer is for an Orthotic Technician, a Certified Pedorthotist, or a Hearing Aid Repair Technician, DOL assigns one of four experience levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level technicians with limited experience, typically less than two years in the field, working under close supervision with basic fabrication or repair tasks and little independent judgment expected by the employer.
Level 2 applies to qualified technicians with moderate hands-on experience who perform standard duties with general supervision. This is the most common filing level for Medical Appliance Technicians, reflecting the role's typical hiring profile at established orthotic and prosthetic practices.
Level 3 is for experienced technicians who work independently, handle complex custom devices, and may informally guide junior staff. DOL expects demonstrated proficiency across a range of appliance types and the ability to resolve technical problems without direct oversight.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior technicians or lead-level professionals who set standards, manage technical workflows, and bring specialized expertise. Employers filing at this level typically document supervisory or mentorship responsibilities alongside advanced fabrication skills.
Prevailing Wage for Medical Appliance Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Medical Appliance Technicians and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches on LCA filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs under a related SOC like 29-2099 (Health Technologists) rather than 51-9082, which carries a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm the SOC code on your LCA matches Medical Appliance Technicians before signing an offer.
Account for Phoenix and Tucson wage premiums
Arizona metros consistently post prevailing wages well above the national median for this occupation. If you are evaluating offers in Phoenix or Tucson, the L1 floor alone significantly exceeds the national entry-level figure, giving you a stronger negotiating baseline than in most other markets.
Check whether bonus or commission counts toward compliance
Some orthotics and prosthetics labs structure pay with productivity bonuses or signing-bonus amortization. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only the base wage, so a below-floor base salary cannot be rescued by a discretionary bonus when your employer certifies the LCA.
Find employers who have sponsored this role before
Migrate Mate shows historical visa sponsorship counts by employer, so you can see which orthotic labs, prosthetics manufacturers, and medical device companies have actually filed for Medical Appliance Technicians. Filtering by role and location narrows the list to realistic prospects.
Jobs for Medical Appliance Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Medical Appliance TechniciansPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-9082.00 alongside Medical Appliance Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Pedorthotist Prevailing Wage
Certified Pedorthotist Prevailing Wage
Certified Pedorthotist positions fall under SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hearing Aid Repair Technician Prevailing Wage
Hearing Aid Repair Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hearing Aid Repair Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Lab Technician Prevailing Wage
Lab Technician Prevailing Wage
Lab Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Orthopedic Technician Prevailing Wage
Orthopedic Technician Prevailing Wage
Orthopedic Technician positions fall under SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (O and P Technician) Prevailing Wage
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (O and P Technician) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (O and P Technician) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Orthotic Technician Prevailing Wage
Orthotic Technician Prevailing Wage
Orthotic Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Prosthetic Technician Prevailing Wage
Prosthetic Technician Prevailing Wage
Prosthetic Technician positions fall under SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Prosthetics Technician Prevailing Wage
Prosthetics Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Prosthetics Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician Prevailing Wage
Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician Prevailing Wage
Registered Prosthetic Orthotic Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-9082.00 (Medical Appliance Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Medical Appliance Technicians?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for each occupation and metro area. For SOC 51-9082, OFLC assigns wages at four levels based on the regional distribution of reported earnings, updated annually. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect a DOL framework tied to experience, supervision, and complexity of duties. Level 1 is entry, Level 2 is qualified with moderate experience, Level 3 is experienced and largely independent, and Level 4 is fully competent or senior. Your level should correspond to what the job actually requires, not just your years of experience. USCIS and OFLC both scrutinize mismatches between the job description and the filed level.
Why does the same Medical Appliance Technicians role pay so differently across cities?
Prevailing wages are calculated from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so they reflect local labor market conditions rather than a national average. A worksite in Phoenix or San Francisco draws on survey data showing higher local wages, while El Paso or Buffalo reflects a lower regional median. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, so the city where you physically work determines which wage floor your employer must meet, regardless of where the company is headquartered.
What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite and level. OFLC will reject or audit the application, and USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other work visa petition without a valid certified LCA. An offer below the floor must be renegotiated before the sponsorship process can proceed. There is no waiver or exception for small employers in this occupation.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current four-level wages for SOC 51-9082 at any metro area. Enter the occupation code and the worksite city or metropolitan statistical area to retrieve the applicable floors. You can also review O*NET for occupational context. Migrate Mate filters sponsored job listings by role and location, letting you see which employers have filed for this occupation in specific metros before you apply.
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