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Podiatrists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $160,300 Median per year · $77.07/hr Most earn $66,010–$309,670

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Make and fit prosthetic appliances.
  • Make and fit prosthetic appliances.
  • Perform administrative duties, such as hiring employees, ordering supplies, or keeping records.
  • Prescribe medications, corrective devices, physical therapy, or surgery.
  • Educate the public about the benefits of foot care through techniques such as speaking engagements, advertising, and other forums.
  • Diagnose diseases and deformities of the foot using medical histories, physical examinations, x-rays, and laboratory test results.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of all other health practitioners58.1%
  • Offices of physicians16.9%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service9.5%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals7.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Podiatry is not an entry-level job. It usually takes a bachelor's degree, a four-year doctoral program in podiatric medicine, and 2 to 4 years of hospital training, so plan on roughly 10 years or more after high school. The career is about diagnosing and treating foot and ankle problems.

  1. Bachelor's degree in biology or another science

    4 years

    Build a strong science foundation and keep your grades high, since podiatry programs look closely at your academic record.

  2. Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree

    4 years

    Podiatric medical school teaches anatomy, medicine, surgery, and foot and ankle care, and prepares you for licensing exams.

  3. Podiatric residency (hospital training)

    2-4 years

    Residency gives you supervised experience treating patients, which is the related work experience employers and licensing boards expect before you practice on your own.

  4. Podiatrist

    Ongoing

    After completing training and passing licensing requirements, you diagnose and treat foot and ankle conditions in a practice, clinic, or hospital.

Where it can lead

  1. Podiatric Surgeon

    After residency and several years in practice of experience first

    You take on more complex foot and ankle surgeries, often by completing extra surgical training or building a surgery-focused practice.

  2. Practice Owner or Partner

    Several years as a practicing podiatrist of experience first

    You take on business responsibilities, such as running a clinic, hiring staff, and managing patient care across a team.

  3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

    4-6 years of prior experience in that field of experience first

    This is a different surgical specialty that focuses on the face, jaw, and mouth. It is a related option for people who enjoy surgery and want a different specialty.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and anatomy if your school offers themThese classes build the science background you will need for a podiatry degree.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, or clinicVolunteering shows you how a healthcare setting works and helps you see whether working with patients suits you.
  • Ask to shadow a healthcare providerWatching a doctor or podiatrist at work, even for a few hours, gives you a realistic picture of the career.
  • Join a science or health clubClubs like these help you explore healthcare topics and build teamwork and communication skills.

In college

  • Major in biology or another science and take the prerequisite coursesA science major plus courses like general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biology covers what podiatry programs usually require.
  • Shadow a podiatristShadowing gives you direct experience with foot and ankle care and something concrete to talk about in applications.
  • Work as a medical assistant, CNA, or patient care techPaid clinical work builds patient-care skills and shows future schools that you can handle a medical environment.
  • Join a pre-health or pre-professional student groupThese groups often host speakers, workshops, and advising sessions on applying to professional programs.
  • Get research or lab experienceWorking in a campus lab builds critical thinking and science skills that matter in medical school and residency.

Tips for getting started

  • Shadow a podiatrist or spend time in a foot and ankle clinic to see the daily work and confirm it is a good fit before you commit to years of training.
  • Ask your school counselor or a college pre-health advisor for a plan of required science courses, since podiatry schools have specific prerequisites.
  • Get hands-on patient experience early, such as a medical assistant or CNA job, because residency programs value real clinical exposure.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Medicine Professional degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $65,192 a year · typical debt $207,472

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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