Podiatrists: Job Description
Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
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What Tasks Do Podiatrists Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of podiatrists cover:
- 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.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Podiatrists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- 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
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 2,849,753 podiatrists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Podiatrists Make?
| 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 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Podiatrists Salary by State
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for podiatrists vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Podiatrists
| 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
The bulk of podiatrists are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 8,530 | $141,790 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for podiatrists reflects the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for podiatrists typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on 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).
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