Career comparison
Occupational Therapist vs. Orthotist and Prosthetist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Occupational therapists earn more at the median ($100,330 vs. $81,110), while occupational therapists usually get to work faster (6–7 years of training). Occupational therapists help people do everyday activities after injury, illness or disability. Orthotist and prosthetists design and fit braces and artificial limbs that help people move.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Occupational Therapist | Orthotist and Prosthetist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,330 ($48.24/hr) | $81,110 ($38.99/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $71,690 – $131,950 | $46,350 – $119,810 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +14.8% (much faster than average) | +12.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 10,000 | 700 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 6–7 years | 6–7 years |
| Key credential | NBCOT certification (OTR) | Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) |
| Work setting | OTs work in hospitals, rehab centers, schools, nursing facilities, clinics and patients’ homes.. | Practitioners work in O&P clinics, hospitals and rehab centers.. |
What each job does
Occupational Therapist
- Evaluate patients’ abilities and needs
- Set therapy goals
- Teach daily living skills
- Recommend adaptive equipment
- Suggest home and workplace changes
Orthotist and Prosthetist
- Evaluate patients’ needs
- Take casts, measurements and scans
- Design orthoses and prostheses
- Fit and adjust devices
- Train patients to use devices
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, hands-on work, creative work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose occupational therapist if…
- I want to help people live independently
- I’m creative with solutions
- I’m patient
Choose orthotist and prosthetist if…
- I want to help people move
- I like hands-on design
- I enjoy biomechanics
Still torn? Take the Occupational Therapist fit quiz and the Orthotist and Prosthetist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, occupational therapist or orthotist and prosthetist?
Occupational Therapists earn more at the median: $100,330 versus $81,110 for orthotist and prosthetists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Occupational Therapists typically train faster (6–7 years) than orthotist and prosthetists (6–7 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects occupational therapists to grow +14.8% from 2025–35, compared with +12.9% for orthotist and prosthetists.