Life As a Podiatrist
Podiatrist Job Description Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
What Do Podiatrists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.
- Educate the public about the benefits of foot care through techniques such as speaking engagements, advertising, and other forums.
- Refer patients to physicians when symptoms indicative of systemic disorders, such as arthritis or diabetes, are observed in feet and legs.
- Advise patients about treatments and foot care techniques necessary for prevention of future problems.
- Surgically treat conditions such as corns, calluses, ingrown nails, tumors, shortened tendons, bunions, cysts, or abscesses.
- Treat deformities using mechanical methods, such as whirlpool or paraffin baths, and electrical methods, such as short wave and low voltage currents.
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Skills Needed to be a Podiatrist
Podiatrists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles
- Physician
- Podiatric Medicine Doctor (DPM)
- Podiatrist
- Foot Doctor
- Practitioner
Are There Job Opportunities for Podiatrists?
In the United States, there were 11,000 jobs for Podiatrist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,200 new jobs for Podiatrist by 2026. There will be an estimated 700 positions for Podiatrist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Podiatrist are Utah, Maryland, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Kansas, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Podiatrists Salary
The salary for Podiatrists ranges between about $52,060 and $208,000 a year.

Podiatrists who work in Nebraska, Rhode Island, or Wisconsin, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Podiatrists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $148,010 |
Arizona | $143,620 |
Arkansas | $183,190 |
California | $120,750 |
Colorado | $119,190 |
Connecticut | $95,610 |
Delaware | $171,800 |
District of Columbia | $152,520 |
Florida | $136,170 |
Georgia | $125,390 |
Illinois | $180,270 |
Indiana | $182,030 |
Iowa | $173,370 |
Kansas | $122,390 |
Kentucky | $111,780 |
Louisiana | $157,690 |
Maryland | $159,950 |
Massachusetts | $173,250 |
Michigan | $131,780 |
Minnesota | $184,280 |
Missouri | $135,760 |
Montana | $119,040 |
Nebraska | $219,670 |
Nevada | $109,560 |
New Jersey | $132,320 |
New Mexico | $124,660 |
New York | $156,960 |
North Carolina | $186,510 |
Ohio | $155,870 |
Oklahoma | $132,420 |
Oregon | $93,930 |
Pennsylvania | $136,780 |
Rhode Island | $226,030 |
South Carolina | $195,380 |
Tennessee | $139,880 |
Texas | $139,070 |
Utah | $147,770 |
Virginia | $144,330 |
Washington | $136,330 |
West Virginia | $175,530 |
Wisconsin | $201,060 |
What Tools & Technology do Podiatrists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Podiatrists may use on a daily basis:
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
How to Become a Podiatrist
Are there Podiatrists education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Podiatrists Work?

Below are examples of industries where Podiatrists work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Podiatrist may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Internet Archive Book Images; Joseph, Alfred via No known copyright
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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