### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Podiatrists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			podiatrists imagePodiatrists may diagnose foot, ankle, and lower leg problems through x rays.							
						Quick Facts:     Podiatrists2023     Median Pay
            						$141,650     per year
										$68.10     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Doctoral or professional degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Internship/residencyNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    10,600Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    1% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    100What Podiatrists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Podiatrists usually work in offices of podiatry, other medical offices, or hospitals. Most work full time, and some need to be on call for emergencies.
            
                                                How to Become a Podiatrist
                                                
                        
Podiatrists must earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and complete a 3-year residency program. Every state requires podiatrists to be licensed.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for podiatrists was $141,650 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of podiatrists is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 300 openings for podiatrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for podiatrists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of podiatrists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about podiatrists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Podiatrists Do 
            

			PodiatristsPodiatrists treat injuries involving the lower extremities.			
Podiatrists diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and perform surgery for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.
Duties
Podiatrists typically do the following:
Diagnose and assess patients’ conditions by reviewing medical histories, performing physical exams, and reviewing x rays and medical laboratory tests.
Provide nonsurgical treatment for foot, ankle, and lower leg ailments, such as prescribing special shoe inserts (orthotics) to improve a patient’s mobility
Perform foot and ankle surgeries, such as removing bone spurs, repairing fractures, and correcting other foot and ankle problems
Advise and instruct patients about foot and ankle care and wellness
Prescribe medications
Refer patients to other physicians or specialists if they detect other health problems, such as diabetes or vascular disease
Conduct research, read journals, and attend conferences to keep up with advances in podiatric medicine and surgeryPodiatrists treat a variety of foot and ankle ailments, including calluses, ingrown toenails, heel spurs, arthritis, and arch problems. They also treat foot and leg problems associated with diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions. Some podiatrists spend most of their time performing surgery, such as foot and ankle reconstruction. Others may choose a specialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, or diabetic foot care.
Podiatrists who own their practice may spend time on business-related activities, such as hiring employees and managing inventory.
 Work Environment
			PodiatristsPodiatrists who work in urgent-care facilities may need to be on call for emergencies.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Podiatrists held about 10,600 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of podiatrists were as follows:
        Offices of other health practitioners
                52%Offices of physicians
                20Self-employed workers
                10Federal government, excluding postal service
                8Hospitals; state, local, and private
                7Offices of podiatry are counted among offices of other healthcare practitioners.
Some podiatrists work in group practices with other physicians or specialists. Podiatrists may work closely with physicians and surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, medical assistants, and dietitians and nutritionists.
Work Schedules
Most podiatrists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules may vary and include evenings or weekends to accommodate patients. Some podiatrists, such as those who work in urgent-care facilities, may need to be on call for emergencies. Self-employed podiatrists or those who own their practice may have flexibility in setting their own hours.
 How to Become a Podiatrist

			PodiatristsApplicants to podiatry programs must have completed coursework in sciences and other subjects.			
Podiatrists must earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and complete a 3-year residency program. Every state requires podiatrists to be licensed.
Education
Podiatrists must have a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree from an accredited college of podiatric medicine. A DPM degree program takes 4 years to complete. Colleges of podiatric medicine are accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, which provides a list online of accredited programs.
Admission to podiatric medicine programs requires at least 3 years of undergraduate education, but nearly all prospective students have a bachelor’s degree in healthcare, biology, or physical science. Although programs might not specify the undergraduate degree required for admission, applicants must have completed courses in laboratory sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as general coursework in subjects such as English. Applicants to DPM schools usually submit scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and letters of recommendation. They also may indicate that they shadowed a podiatrist.
Courses for a DPM degree are similar to those for other medical degrees. They include anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology. Podiatric medical students gain supervised experience by completing clinical rotations while in school.
Training
After earning a DPM, podiatrists must apply to and complete a podiatric medicine and surgery residency (PMSR) program. Residency programs, which last several years, take place in hospitals and allow podiatrists to gain experience providing medical and surgical care to patients.
Podiatrists may complete additional training in specific fellowship areas, such as podiatric wound care, diabetic foot care, or limb preservation.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Podiatrists in every state must be licensed. Podiatrists must pay a fee and pass all parts of the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exam (APMLE), offered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners. Some states have additional requirements. A full list of requirements for each state is available from the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards.
Many podiatrists choose to become board certified. Certification generally requires a combination of work experience and passing an exam. Board certification is offered by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***Podiatrists must be able to listen and convey information to patients, such as about the diagnosis and ways to improve their condition.
***Compassion.*** Because podiatrists provide care for patients who may be in pain, they must treat patients with understanding.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Podiatrists must be analytical to correctly diagnose a patient and determine the best course of treatment.
***Detail oriented.***When diagnosing a problem, podiatrists must pay attention to details, such as those about the patient’s medical history and current conditions.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Podiatrists spend much of their time interacting with patients and also must work well as part of a medical team coordinating patient care.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                PodiatristsMedian annual wages, May 2023Podiatrists$141,650  Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners$98,760  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for podiatrists was $141,650 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $58,550, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $239,200.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for podiatrists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Offices of physicians
                $222,080Federal government, excluding postal service
                195,940Offices of other health practitioners
                124,840Hospitals; state, local, and private
                100,810Most podiatrists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules may vary and include evenings or weekends to accommodate patients. Some podiatrists, such as those who work in urgent-care facilities, may need to be on call for emergencies. Self-employed podiatrists or those who own their practice may have flexibility in setting their own hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                PodiatristsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners9%  Total, all occupations3%  Podiatrists1%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of podiatrists is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 300 openings for podiatrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The U.S. population continues to age and to see an associated increase in its rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. As a result, people will continue to have mobility and foot-related problems, and podiatrists will be needed to treat many of these conditions. However, demand for podiatrists is expected to be limited because many patients may acquire services from a non-podiatrist physician or other appropriate caregiver.
			

                        Employment projections data for     podiatrists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Podiatrists**
			29-1081
			10,600
			10,700
			1
			100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Podiatrists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of podiatrists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Chiropractors**
            Chiropractors evaluate and treat patients' neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $76,530**Occupational Therapists**
            Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.
            Master's degree
            $96,370**Optometrists**
            Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system, including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $131,860**Orthotists and Prosthetists**
            Orthotists and prosthetists measure, design, fit, and adapt medical devices, such as supportive braces and artificial limbs, for patients who have disabling conditions.
            Master's degree
            $78,100**Physical Therapists**
            Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $99,710**Physicians and Surgeons**
            Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            This wage is equal to or greater than $239,200 per year.**Dentists**
            Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $170,910
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about podiatrists, visit
American Podiatric Medical Association
For information on colleges of podiatric medicine and their entrance requirements, curricula, and student financial aid, visit
American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
For a list of accredited podiatric programs and residency programs, visit
Council on Podiatric Medical Education
For more information about the podiatric licensing exam, visit
National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners
For more information about board certification, visit
American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
American Board of Podiatric Medicine
American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Podiatrists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Podiatrists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/podiatrists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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