$148,720/year
Bachelor's degree + 4 years podiatric medical school (DPM)
Certification
ABPM or ABPS
Job Growth
2% (2022-2032)
Entry Level
No
Work Setting
Private practices, group practices, hospitals, surgery centers
sports medicine clinics, VA facilities
Last Updated
January 2025
Reviewed by: Dr. Rachel Kim, DPM, FACFAS – Podiatric Surgeon, Board Certified Foot and Ankle Specialist
What is a Podiatrist?
Podiatrists (Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, DPM) are medical professionals specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Podiatrists manage injuries, diseases, and deformities of the lower extremities through non-surgical treatments, surgery, prescribing medications, and preventive care. There are approximately 10,000 active podiatrists in the United States treating conditions ranging from common issues like bunions and plantar fasciitis to complex reconstructive surgery and diabetic limb salvage.
Podiatrists complete four years of podiatric medical school followed by three-year surgical residency programs, obtaining comprehensive training in foot and ankle surgery, biomechanics, wound care, sports medicine, and lower extremity pathology. Unlike orthopedic surgeons who treat the entire musculoskeletal system, podiatrists focus exclusively on feet and ankles, developing deep expertise in this anatomical region.
The scope of podiatric practice varies by state but generally includes prescribing medications, ordering and interpreting imaging, performing surgery (ranging from minor procedures to complex reconstructive operations), treating sports injuries, managing diabetic foot complications, fitting orthotics, and providing preventive care.
Why Become a Podiatrist?
Excellent Compensation:
Podiatrists earn median salaries of $148,720 with top earners exceeding $230,000 annually. Surgical podiatrists and practice owners often earn $200,000-$300,000+.
Focused Specialty:
Rather than mastering the entire body, podiatrists develop deep expertise in foot and ankle conditions. This focused scope appeals to those preferring specialized practice.
Shorter Training Than Physicians:
Podiatrists complete 11 years post-high school training versus 11-15+ years for physicians, entering independent practice earlier with less educational debt.
Diverse Practice Options:
Podiatrists perform surgery, manage chronic diseases (diabetic foot care), treat sports injuries, provide preventive care, and prescribe medications, offering varied clinical experiences.
Strong Demand:
Aging populations, diabetes prevalence, and sports participation create steady demand for podiatric services. Diabetic foot complications particularly drive need for podiatric care.
Strong Demand:
Aging populations, diabetes prevalence, and sports participation create steady demand for podiatric services. Diabetic foot complications particularly drive need for podiatric care.
Practice Autonomy:
Podiatrists can own private practices, control schedules, and make independent clinical decisions without physician supervision.
Three Spheres of PHN Influence
What Podiatrists Do?
In the next section, you’ll learn about the core responsibilities, daily activities, and areas of impact that define a Podiatrist Career Guide—across patient care, nursing practice, and healthcare systems.
Daily Responsibilities and Tasks
Non-Surgical Treatment
Podiatrists provide conservative management for common foot problems. This includes treating plantar fasciitis with stretching exercises, orthotics, injections, and shockwave therapy. They manage bunions with appropriate footwear, padding, and orthotics. Heel spurs, neuromas, and tendinitis receive similar conservative approaches including physical therapy modalities, medications, and biomechanical corrections.
Wound care is a major focus, particularly diabetic ulcers. Podiatrists debride wounds, manage infections, apply advanced dressings, optimize blood flow, and coordinate with vascular surgeons when needed. Preventing amputations through aggressive wound management is a critical podiatric responsibility.
Surgical Procedures
Surgical podiatrists perform various procedures from minor office-based surgeries to complex reconstructive operations:
Minor Procedures: Ingrown toenail removal, wart excision, corn/callus removal, cyst excision, minor soft tissue masses
Forefoot Surgery: Bunion correction (bunionectomy), hammer toe repair, metatarsal osteotomies, neuroma excision, toe joint fusions
Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery: Ankle arthroscopy, ankle fracture repair, Achilles tendon repair, flatfoot reconstruction, heel spur removal, ankle ligament reconstruction
Complex Reconstruction: Charcot foot reconstruction, diabetic limb salvage, severe trauma repair, arthrodesis procedures, total ankle replacement
Surgical podiatrists work in hospital operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers, often specializing in particular surgical approaches.
Diabetic Foot Care
Managing diabetic patients represents a significant portion of podiatric practice. Podiatrists perform regular foot examinations screening for neuropathy, vascular disease, and early ulceration. They educate patients about foot protection, proper footwear, nail care, and daily foot inspection. When complications occur, podiatrists coordinate multidisciplinary care involving endocrinologists, vascular surgeons, and infectious disease specialists.
Sports Medicine
Sports-focused podiatrists treat athletic injuries including ankle sprains, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and overuse injuries. They design custom orthotics optimizing biomechanics, recommend appropriate athletic footwear, and develop return-to-play protocols.
Biomechanical Assessment and Orthotics
Podiatrists analyze gait patterns, foot structure, and biomechanical abnormalities contributing to pain or injury. They design custom orthotic devices correcting biomechanical problems, redistributing pressure, and preventing injury progression.
Patient Education and Preventive Care
Podiatrists educate patients about proper foot care, appropriate footwear selection, injury prevention, and early warning signs requiring medical attention. Preventive care includes routine nail care for elderly patients, biomechanical assessments for athletes, and diabetic foot education.
Documentation and Practice Management
Like all healthcare providers, podiatrists document patient encounters, review imaging, coordinate referrals, and manage administrative tasks. Practice-owning podiatrists oversee staff, manage finances, handle insurance contracting, and ensure regulatory compliance.
What’s Next?
Work Environment and Lifestyle
This section covers hospitals, specialty clinics, academic environments, and leadership roles—helping you visualize your future workplace.
Work Environment and Lifestyle
Where Podiatrists Work
Approximately 70% of podiatrists own or work in private practices, the highest ownership rate among medical specialties. Private practice podiatrists typically operate outpatient offices performing consultations, minor procedures, and managing chronic conditions. Surgical cases are performed at nearby hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers.
About 15% work in group practices with multiple podiatrists or multidisciplinary clinics including orthopedics, physical therapy, and sports medicine. Hospital-employed podiatrists work in wound care centers, diabetic foot clinics, or serve as inpatient consultants managing hospitalized patients with foot problems.
Veterans Affairs facilities employ podiatrists treating military veterans. Academic podiatrists teach at nine U.S. podiatric medical schools and supervise residents. Some podiatrists work in sports medicine clinics treating professional or collegiate athletes.
Work Schedule and Lifestyle
Most podiatrists work 40-50 hours weekly with predictable schedules. Office-based podiatrists typically work Monday-Friday (8 AM-5 PM) with occasional evening hours. Surgical podiatrists divide time between office, operating room, and hospital rounds, working 50-60 hours weekly.
Call responsibilities are minimal for most podiatrists. Emergency foot conditions are rare compared to general surgical emergencies. Some podiatrists take call at hospitals but frequency is usually monthly or less.
Work-life balance is generally favorable compared to other surgical specialties. Podiatrists report high career satisfaction related to manageable schedules, practice autonomy, and diverse clinical work.
Pros
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Excellent Compensation - $148,720 median, surgical podiatrists $200,000-$300,000+
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Practice Autonomy - High ownership rates, independent decision-making
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Focused Specialty - Deep expertise in specific anatomical region
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Work-Life Balance - Regular hours, minimal call for many
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Diverse Practice - Surgery, medicine, sports, wound care
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Shorter Training - 11 years versus 11-15+ for physicians
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Lower Debt - Less than medical school typically
Cons
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Scope Limitations - Only foot and ankle, may feel restrictive
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Professional Recognition - Some confusion about DPM versus MD credentials
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Insurance Reimbursement - Declining payments for some procedures
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Competition - Orthopedic surgeons increasingly treat foot/ankle
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Physical Demands - Standing during surgery, repetitive procedures
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Debt Load - Still $150,000-$200,000 average debt
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Limited Geographic Flexibility - State licensure variations affect mobility
What’s Next?
Salary and Compensation
Learn about average salaries, factors that influence compensation, and projected demand forPodiatrist Career Guide.
Salary and Compensation
National Salary Overview
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 data, podiatrists earn median annual salaries of $148,720 with hourly rates of $71.50.
Salary by Experience and Practice Type
Experience/Type
Annual Salary
Notes
Resident
$60,000-$70,000
Training salary
Early Career (1-5 years)
$120,000-$160,000
Building practice
Mid-Career (6-15 years)
$150,000-$220,000
Established practice
Practice Owner
$180,000-$300,000+
Varies by practice size
Employed Podiatrist
$140,000-$180,000
Salary guaranteed
Surgical Specialist
$200,000-$280,000
High procedural volume
Surgical podiatrists focusing on complex procedures earn significantly more than general podiatrists. Practice owners earn more than employed podiatrists but assume business risks and responsibilities.
Salary by State
State
Annual Salary
Hourly Rate
North Dakota
$263,200
$126.54
Indiana
$238,160
$114.50
Wisconsin
$209,310
$100.63
Maine
$193,470
$93.01
Minnesota
$187,590
$90.19
Iowa
$181,470
$87.25
Oregon
$181,460
$87.24
California
$168,740
$81.13
Texas
$143,620
$69.05
Florida
$139,210
$66.93
Midwest states offer highest podiatry compensation. Rural areas often provide premium salaries with recruitment bonuses due to provider shortages.
Additional Compensation
New graduates receive sign-on bonuses ($10,000-$50,000) especially in underserved areas. Practice owners’ income depends on patient volume, payer mix, overhead management, and business acumen. Productivity bonuses, profit-sharing, and real estate ownership through practice buildings increase total compensation substantially.
What’s Next?
How to Become a Podiatrist
This section outlines education requirements, licensure, certification, and experience needed to become a Podiatrist Career Guide.
Educational Path
Step 1
Complete Bachelor's Degree (4 years)
Earn bachelor’s degree completing podiatric school prerequisites:
- Biology (2 semesters with lab)
- Chemistry (2 semesters with lab)
- Organic chemistry (2 semesters with lab)
- Physics (2 semesters with lab)
- English (varies)
- Mathematics (varies)
Maintain strong GPA (3.5+ competitive). Shadow podiatrists, volunteer in healthcare settings, and demonstrate understanding of podiatric medicine.
Step 2
Take MCAT and Apply to Podiatric Medical Schools
Take MCAT examination (same test as MD/DO applicants). Average podiatric matriculant scores 497-502 MCAT, slightly lower than medical school averages. Some schools accept GRE or DAT instead.
Apply through American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS). Nine accredited U.S. podiatric medical schools exist. Most applicants apply to multiple schools.
Step 3
Complete Podiatric Medical School (4 years)
Preclinical Years (Years 1-2): Foundational sciences including anatomy (emphasis on lower extremity), biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. Biomechanics and podiatric-specific coursework begin first year.
Clinical Years (Years 3-4): Clinical rotations in podiatric medicine, podiatric surgery, dermatology, radiology, anesthesia, and various medical specialties. Students gain hands-on experience in clinics and surgical settings.
Tuition ranges $40,000-$60,000 annually. Total debt averages $150,000-$200,000.
Step 4
Complete Podiatric Residency (3 years)
All graduates complete three-year residencies (Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency – PMSR). Residents perform surgeries, manage inpatient foot problems, and gain comprehensive surgical training in forefoot, rearfoot, and ankle procedures.
Residency provides progressive surgical responsibility culminating in ability to independently perform complex reconstructive procedures. Compensation is $60,000-$70,000 annually.
Step 5
Board Certification and Licensure
After residency, podiatrists pursue board certification through American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) or American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS). Board certification requires passing written and oral examinations.
State licensure requires graduation from accredited podiatric school, residency completion, and passing national board examinations (APMLE). Each state has different scope of practice laws affecting surgical privileges and prescribing authority.
Total Timeline
High school to independent practice: 11 years (4 undergraduate + 4 podiatric school + 3 residency).
What’s Next?
Career Advancement
Understand advancement opportunities and long-term growth potential.
Practice Growth
Private Practice Ownership: Many podiatrists open solo or group practices, controlling schedules and maximizing income through ownership equity.
Multi-Location Practices: Expand to multiple office locations increasing patient volume and revenue.
Surgical Subspecialization: Focus on complex reconstruction, sports medicine, or diabetic limb salvage developing specialized expertise.
Academic and Leadership
Residency Director: Lead podiatric residency programs training next generation.
Medical School Faculty: Teach at podiatric medical schools.
Hospital Leadership: Department chief roles at hospitals with podiatry services.
Alternative Paths
Medical Device Industry: Consult for orthopedic device companies developing foot/ankle products.
Expert Witness: Provide testimony in malpractice or personal injury cases.
Healthcare Administration: Lead wound care centers or foot/ankle specialty programs.
Research: Investigate new surgical techniques, biomechanical interventions, or diabetic foot treatments.
What’s Next?
Similar Careers
Understand advancement opportunities and long-term growth potential.
Similar Careers
Orthopedic Surgeon
MD/DO + 5-year residency + optional fellowship
$557,000/year median
Treat musculoskeletal conditions including foot/ankle but across entire body.
Physical Therapist
DPT (3 years)
$97,960/year
Rehabilitation specialists using exercise and manual therapy for mobility/function.
Chiropractor
DC (4 years, no residency)
$75,380/year
Focus on spinal manipulation; some treat extremities.
Prosthetist/Orthotist
Master's degree
$77,030/year
Design and fit prosthetic limbs and orthotic devices.
What’s Next?
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? The final section addresses common concerns and practical questions about becoming and working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a podiatrist a medical doctor?
Podiatrists are doctors but hold DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) degrees rather than MD or DO degrees. DPMs attend four-year podiatric medical schools and complete three-year residencies, receiving extensive training in foot and ankle medicine and surgery. Podiatrists can prescribe medications, order tests, and perform surgery within their scope of practice.
What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthopedic surgeon?
Orthopedic surgeons (MDs/DOs) treat the entire musculoskeletal system after 5-year residencies, while podiatrists specialize exclusively in foot and ankle after 4-year podiatric schools and 3-year residencies. Podiatrists develop deeper expertise in foot/ankle conditions. Some overlap exists, with both treating ankle fractures, bunions, and Achilles injuries.
Can podiatrists perform surgery?
Yes, podiatrists perform surgery ranging from minor in-office procedures (ingrown toenail removal) to complex reconstructive operations (ankle reconstruction, Charcot foot repair, total ankle replacement). Surgical scope varies by state licensing laws and residency training.
How long does it take to become a podiatrist?
11 years after high school: 4 years undergraduate + 4 years podiatric medical school + 3 years residency. This is shorter than many physician specialties requiring 4 years medical school + 5-7 years residency.
How much does podiatry school cost?
Tuition averages $40,000-$60,000 annually for 4 years. Total debt including living expenses averages $150,000-$200,000 for most graduates, less than typical medical school debt.
Is podiatry a dying field?
No. Demand remains stable driven by aging populations, diabetes prevalence, and sports injuries. However, podiatry faces challenges including competition from orthopedic surgeons treating foot/ankle and declining insurance reimbursements for some procedures. Overall job growth is projected at 2% through 2032.
What’s Next?
Overview
The overview brings together key highlights, role impact, and career context—making it a helpful starting point whether you’re just beginning or refining your decision.
