Podiatrists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $160,300 | $77.07 |
| Mean (average) | $175,480 | $84.37 |
| 90th percentile | $309,670 | $148.88 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Podiatrists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 41 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $161,820 | $66,400 | $248,770 | 90 | 0.71 |
| Arizona | $133,190 | $63,340 | $231,200 | 270 | 1.32 |
| California | $201,300 | $85,480 | $362,110 | 1,000 | 0.88 |
| Colorado | $142,620 | $67,470 | $297,540 | 150 | 0.81 |
| Connecticut | $212,760 | $104,660 | $285,350 | 170 | 1.63 |
| Delaware | $170,560 | $99,480 | $227,490 | 60 | 2.01 |
| District of Columbia | $265,740 | $143,860 | $284,480 | ||
| Florida | $138,340 | $52,000 | $227,140 | 870 | 1.41 |
| Georgia | $132,630 | $67,790 | $281,360 | 190 | 0.62 |
| Idaho | $124,610 | $43,080 | $250,100 | 30 | 0.64 |
| Illinois | $167,400 | $64,800 | $323,420 | ||
| Indiana | $132,930 | $45,470 | $251,880 | 260 | 1.29 |
| Iowa | $134,830 | $51,850 | $264,630 | 100 | 1 |
| Kentucky | $201,260 | $54,090 | $404,130 | 80 | 0.61 |
| Louisiana | $197,480 | $35,880 | $402,490 | 50 | 0.46 |
| Maine | $200,850 | $111,800 | $312,740 | 40 | 0.97 |
| Maryland | $201,940 | $97,320 | $312,290 | 330 | 1.92 |
| Massachusetts | $217,700 | $79,380 | $350,120 | 170 | 0.76 |
| Michigan | $162,140 | $60,490 | $242,490 | 350 | 1.29 |
| Minnesota | $261,180 | $103,720 | $330,290 | 130 | 0.73 |
| Mississippi | $164,410 | $90,140 | $231,570 | 30 | 0.45 |
| Missouri | $129,950 | $69,990 | $289,550 | 160 | 0.87 |
| Nevada | $204,990 | $67,280 | $228,770 | 70 | 0.68 |
| New Hampshire | $250,070 | $111,910 | $399,500 | 70 | 1.58 |
| New Jersey | $160,300 | $68,750 | $283,360 | 260 | 0.96 |
| New Mexico | $202,690 | $58,930 | $314,640 | 60 | 1.05 |
| New York | $108,460 | $64,640 | $278,570 | 1,520 | 2.52 |
| North Carolina | $215,420 | $103,970 | $382,360 | 240 | 0.78 |
| Ohio | $129,380 | $61,030 | $232,320 | 350 | 1.01 |
| Oklahoma | $253,380 | $63,410 | $342,520 | 60 | 0.53 |
| Oregon | $207,430 | $87,580 | $288,000 | 170 | 1.39 |
| Pennsylvania | $155,050 | $57,220 | $278,530 | 390 | 1.04 |
| Rhode Island | $159,760 | $69,700 | $251,850 | 50 | 1.65 |
| South Carolina | $167,110 | $89,130 | $253,770 | 70 | 0.5 |
| Tennessee | $212,470 | $104,640 | $266,800 | 70 | 0.36 |
| Texas | $175,520 | $96,700 | $394,970 | 500 | 0.57 |
| Utah | $93,270 | $44,440 | $315,470 | 120 | 1.15 |
| Virginia | $133,640 | $60,940 | $242,930 | 260 | 1.02 |
| Washington | $232,970 | $67,790 | $340,910 | 140 | 0.62 |
| West Virginia | $207,000 | $89,130 | $271,290 | 50 | 1.05 |
| Wisconsin | $185,100 | $71,990 | $342,010 | 120 | 0.66 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for podiatrists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.9%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for podiatrists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry CIP 51.1203
- Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program CIP 61.2201
- Podiatric Medicine Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other CIP 61.2299
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Advantage Software Podiatry Advantage
- DocSite Registry
- Email software
- Fox Meadows Software MediNotes e
- Quick Notes PDQ Podiatry
- Scanner imaging software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Service Orientation, Systems Analysis.
Common job titles: Attending Physician, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (DPM and Surgery), Doctor Podiatric Medicine (DPM), Foot and Ankle Surgeon, Physician, Podiatric Physician, Podiatric Surgeon, Podiatrist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do podiatrists make?
The national median annual wage for podiatrists was $160,300 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $66,010 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $309,670. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do podiatrists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is podiatrists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of podiatrists to change +2.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay podiatrists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($265,740), Minnesota ($261,180), Oklahoma ($253,380). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.