義肢装具士 義肢装具士
What 義肢装具士 do
An English description is being prepared. Japanese description:
事故や病気などで身体の一部を失った人が使う義手や義足などを「義肢」といい、まひや変形など身体の一部の機能が失われた人が使う医療具を「装具」という。医師の処方に基づいて、機能的で患部に負担をかけない義肢装具を製作するのが、義肢装具士の役割である。
義肢を作る場合、まず切断端の骨の形状や体重がどこにかかるかを観察し、凹型モデルを型採りする。そのモデルにギプス泥を注入して凸型モデルを作り、修正を加える。凸型モデルをもとに、プラスチックでソケットを作り、荷重のかかり具合を考えて、最も合理的に体重を支えられるようにソケットと義肢の各部分を連結するアライメントを行う。次に本格的な製作に入り、半完成状態の義肢を実際に使用する人の身体に装着し、具合の悪いところを調整して仕上げる。
装具を作る場合は、採寸して凹型モデルと凸型モデルを作り、製作に入る。最近では一部に既製品化されているパーツを利用することも多くなっている。
患部に負担をかけない義肢装具は、障害のある人の活動範囲を広げ、その能力発揮を助けるなど、生活の質の向上に役立っている。
義肢装具の製作には患者はもちろん、他の医療従事者とのコミュニケーションによって得られた情報と、医学知識、製作技術を合わせて、最適な義肢装具を製作する。
◇ よく使う道具、機材、情報技術等
工具（かなづち、のこぎり等の手動工具、ドリル等の電動工具）
義肢装具士 salary
The average annual pay for 義肢装具士 in Japan is ¥4.54M (≈ $28,881; Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), national). The estimated median is ¥4.22M, the typical range is ¥3.21M–¥7.54M and the top 10% earn about ¥6.54M.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The distribution is estimated from Japan's national wage statistics, including pay differences by age.
Pay by ageest.
Estimated from the average pay and average age (37.6) using the age-wage curve of the Basic Survey on Wage Structure.
Pay by experienceest.
Pay by employment typeest.
The average hourly wage of ¥2,266 is 1.9× Japan's national average minimum wage of ¥1,177 (fiscal 2026). Minimum wage by prefecture →
Japanese pay is shown in yen (¥5.57M = 5.57 million yen ≈ 557万円). Dollar figures use the current rate of 157.25 yen per dollar and are for reference only; purchasing power differs.
Pay over time
| Year | Average pay | Employment | Openings ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ¥4.23M | — | — |
| 2022 | ¥4.43M | — | — |
| 2023 | ¥4.59M | — | 1.88x |
| 2024 | ¥4.30M | — | 1.98x |
| 2025 | ¥4.54M | — | 1.88x |
Projected pay for 義肢装具士 (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today ¥4.54M → in 3 years ¥4.94M → in 5 years ¥5.23M → in 10 years ¥6.01M (10-year range ¥5.17M–¥6.98M). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (the job-openings-to-applicants ratio), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for 義肢装具士
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace 義肢装具士? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using the MHLW job tag survey on work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for 義肢装具士
A ratio above 1.0 means there are more job openings than applicants (a labor shortage). The 5- and 10-year figures are estimates from the openings ratio, wage momentum and AI replacement risk.
The same job in the United States
| 義肢装具士 Japan | Orthotists and Prosthetists United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | ¥4.54M ≈ $28,881 | $81,110 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | ¥6.01M | $114,400 |
| Outlook score | 60 | 74 |
| AI replacement risk | 10% Very low | 22% Low |
| Workers | — | 9,390 |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for 義肢装具士
Key skills
Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.
Key knowledge areas
Licenses and certifications (Japan)
- 義肢装具士
- １級義肢・装具製作技能士 National license
- ２級義肢・装具製作技能士 National license
Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)
How to become 義肢装具士
The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.
Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
経験と熟練が重要であることから、年齢にかかわらず働くことができる。技術を磨いていけば独立して開業することも可能である。
依頼者の状況は様々であり、幅広い専門知識と高度な技術、医学だけでなく工学的知識が必要である。理学療法士や作業療法士などと協力することも多い。
人体の形を再現する造形的なセンス、身体の一部として正しく機能させる工学的技術も必要となる。
Career path and how to earn more as 義肢装具士
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.