Podiatrists
Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.
Is podiatrists a good career?
It scores 31/100 and ranks #138 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($160,300 vs $61,390)
Possible tradeoffs
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+1.8%)
- Typically requires a doctoral or professional degree
What podiatrists earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. podiatrists earn between $103,730 and $225,910 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live podiatrists jobs
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- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
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.
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 & registrations
Podiatrists in every state must be licensed. Podiatrists must pay a fee and pass all parts of a qualifying exam. Some states have additional requirements.
Many podiatrists choose to become board certified. Certification generally requires a combination of work experience and passing an exam.
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.
Related occupations
How much do podiatrists make?
The national median wage is $160,300 a year, with the middle half earning between $103,730 and $225,910 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is podiatrists a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 31 of 100 and ranks #138 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +1.8% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a podiatrist?
The typical entry-level education is doctoral or professional degree.
Where do podiatrists earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($265,740). Local pay for every state and metro is below.