Podiatrists: Career Profile
Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Podiatrists Do?
Typical responsibilities of podiatrists span:
- Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.
- Diagnose diseases and deformities of the foot using medical histories, physical examinations, x-rays, and laboratory test results.
- Advise patients about treatments and foot care techniques necessary for prevention of future problems.
- Prescribe medications, corrective devices, physical therapy, or surgery.
- Surgically treat conditions such as corns, calluses, ingrown nails, tumors, shortened tendons, bunions, cysts, or abscesses.
- Refer patients to physicians when symptoms indicative of systemic disorders, such as arthritis or diabetes, are observed in feet and legs.
- Make and fit prosthetic appliances.
- Correct deformities by means of plaster casts and strapping.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective podiatrists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Podiatrists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Attending Physician
- Chiropodist
- Doctor Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (DPM and Surgery)
- Doctor of Podiatry
- Foot Doctor
- Foot Orthopedist
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 2,849,753 podiatrists working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +11.4% over the projection horizon.
Podiatrists Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $141,542 |
| Hourly median | $68.05 |
| 10th percentile | $81,432 |
| 25th percentile | $111,487 |
| 75th percentile | $171,597 |
| 90th percentile | $201,653 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Podiatrists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| South Dakota | $234,480 |
| Washington | $228,170 |
| New Mexico | $227,130 |
| Minnesota | $224,280 |
| North Carolina | $221,370 |
| Nevada | $216,900 |
| Tennessee | $213,180 |
| New Hampshire | $211,000 |
| Connecticut | $208,310 |
| Kentucky | $198,990 |
| Maryland | $194,670 |
| California | $193,510 |
| Delaware | $187,180 |
| Colorado | $174,660 |
| Wisconsin | $170,090 |
| Kansas | $169,060 |
| Louisiana | $167,000 |
| Maine | $161,800 |
| South Carolina | $161,250 |
| Texas | $160,310 |
| Florida | $155,970 |
| Rhode Island | $154,070 |
| Arizona | $149,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $147,690 |
| Utah | $146,330 |
| Georgia | $145,580 |
| Alabama | $140,580 |
| Virginia | $139,770 |
| New Jersey | $138,220 |
| Indiana | $133,320 |
| West Virginia | $128,760 |
| Missouri | $128,680 |
| Michigan | $128,500 |
| Massachusetts | $128,160 |
| Iowa | $126,790 |
| Ohio | $119,570 |
| New York | $117,220 |
| Arkansas | $113,580 |
| Idaho | $101,570 |
Where Podiatrists Earn the Most
Pay for podiatrists vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $178,835 | 16.0% | 0.87 |
| Southeast | $164,675 | 24.1% | 1.03 |
| New England | $161,652 | 4.9% | 1.11 |
| Rocky Mountains | $154,388 | 3.3% | 0.80 |
| Plains States | $153,201 | 6.2% | 0.84 |
| Southwest | $152,561 | 10.4% | 0.79 |
| Great Lakes | $134,434 | 10.2% | 1.18 |
| Middle Atlantic | $129,347 | 24.9% | 1.75 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $230,530 | 90 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $225,670 | 110 |
| Albuquerque, NM | NM | $221,980 | 40 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $220,000 | 30 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $218,390 | 130 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | TN | $215,020 | 30 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $213,840 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $211,750 | 100 |
Industry Breakdown
Most podiatrists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 8,530 | $141,790 |
Podiatrists work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for podiatrists reflects the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Dentists, General (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Primary-Long)
- Orthodontists (Supplemental)
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Anesthesiologists (Supplemental)
- Cardiologists (Primary-Long)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring podiatrists typically earn programs in:
2 programs across 1 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1081.00 (Podiatrists).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.