How much does a podiatrists make?

The median podiatrists salary in the United States is $160,300 per year ($77.07/hour). Salaries range from $66,010 (10th percentile) to $309,670 (90th percentile). There are 9,680 podiatrists jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays podiatristss the most?

The highest paying state for podiatristss is District of Columbia at $265,740 median salary.

Is podiatrists a good career?

Podiatrists employment is projected to grow 1.8% from 2024 to 2034 (slower than average). There are approximately 300 job openings per year. Typical education required: Doctoral or professional degree.

What interview questions are asked for podiatrists roles?

Common podiatrists interview questions include: "Walk me through your surgical case volume during residency.", "How would you manage a diabetic foot ulcer?", "Tell me about a complication you managed.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example Private practice groups (solo + small group DPMs) typically uses 2-3 rounds.

What is the career ladder for podiatristss?

The typical podiatrists career ladder: Resident (PGY-1 to PGY-3) (0-3 yrs, $55-72k/year salary) → Attending DPM (New / Hospital / Employed) (0-5 yrs, $130-180k · Higher-volume $170-220k) → Senior DPM / Partner (5-15 yrs, $180-280k · Surgical-heavy practice $220-360k+) → Practice Owner / Multi-Office (12-20+ yrs, $250-450k+ · Multi-office ownership $350-600k+).

What certifications should podiatristss get?

Top-ROI certifications for podiatristss: ABFAS Board Certification (Foot + Ankle Surgery) ($2,500-4,000 initial.); ABPM Board Certification (Podiatric Medicine) ($1,500-2,500 initial.); Fellow of American College of Foot + Ankle Surgeons (FACFAS) ($1,500 + membership + tenure.).

How do you negotiate a podiatrists salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $160,300, p75 $225,910), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Given my board certification + [X years] + surgical volume, base + productivity of $[X] aligns with APMA data for DPMs in [region + setting]. Also: sign-on of $[Y] ($20-50k typical), loan repayment of $[Z] over 3-year c...

Podiatrists Salary

The median podiatrists salary in the United States is $160,300 per year ($77.07/hour). Salaries range from $66,010 at the entry level to $309,670+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 9,680 podiatrists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.8% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asPodiatristFoot Doctor

Median Salary

$160,300

per year

Hourly Rate

$77.07

per hour

Employment

9,680

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$66,010

25th percentile

$103,730

Median

$160,300

75th percentile

$225,910

90th percentile

$309,670

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1.8%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

300

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Doctoral or professional degree

Training Needed

Internship/residency

Podiatrists Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for podiatristss.

Podiatrists (DPMs — Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) diagnose + treat conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower leg — routine foot care, sports injuries, diabetic foot care, biomechanics, surgery (bunions, hammertoes, fractures). Career splits: private practice (highest earnings — often solo or small group), hospital-employed (steady salary + benefits), Veterans Affairs (federal benefits + steady schedule), academic (research + teaching + lower cash), sports medicine (team affiliations), diabetic wound care specialists (growing sub-specialty). Path: 4 yrs podiatry school (DPM) + 3-year residency (PMSR: Podiatric Medicine + Surgery Residency). Median compensation: entry $130-165k; mid-career $180-240k; established private practice $220-380k+; high-volume surgical practices $300-500k+.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Podiatric surgery (bunions, hammertoes, ankle procedures)

Common surgeries: bunionectomy, hammertoe correction, plantar fasciotomy, ankle scopes, ankle fusion.

Diabetic foot + wound care

Debridement, offloading, biological dressings, hyperbaric referral, amputation prevention. Highest-volume + growing specialty.

Sports medicine + biomechanics

Custom orthotics, running injuries, plantar fasciitis, Achilles issues, stress fractures.

Routine foot care

Nail care, corn/callus, tinea pedis, warts. Volume-based bread + butter.

X-ray + basic imaging

In-office X-ray interpretation. Advanced imaging correlation (MRI, ultrasound).

Practice management + billing

Insurance + Medicare (podiatrists heavily reliant on Medicare + Medicaid). Prior authorization.

Patient communication + expectation management

Explaining biomechanics + surgical vs conservative options + realistic outcomes.

Wound + infection management

Osteomyelitis, cellulitis, MRSA. Antibiotic stewardship + hospital admission decisions.

How to Become a Podiatrists

1
Bachelor's + strong MCAT + Podiatry School (DPM, 4 years)
9 podiatry schools in the US. Prerequisites similar to med school. MCAT required at most.
2
PMSR Residency (3 years)
Podiatric Medicine + Surgery Residency. Includes hospital rotations. Match through CASPR.
3
Board Certification (ABFAS, ABPM)
American Board of Foot + Ankle Surgery (surgical) or American Board of Podiatric Medicine. Required for hospital privileges.
4
State license + DEA registration
State licensing + DEA for controlled substances.
5
First practice setting
Hospital-employed, group practice, VA, or private practice.
6
Partnership + practice ownership (5-10 years)
Buy-in to established practice OR start own solo/group practice.

Career Progression

Resident (PGY-1 to PGY-3)

0-3 yrs$55-72k/year salary

•Progressive surgical + clinical autonomy
•Rotations across surgery + medicine + specialty
•Board prep

Next: Attending DPM.

Attending DPM (New / Hospital / Employed)

0-5 yrs$130-180k · Higher-volume $170-220k

•Independent clinical practice
•Building patient panel + referrals
•Hospital call coverage

Next: Senior Attending / Partner.

Senior DPM / Partner

5-15 yrs$180-280k · Surgical-heavy practice $220-360k+

•Established practice + referral network
•Complex surgical cases
•Partnership responsibilities

Next: Practice Owner / Multi-office.

Practice Owner / Multi-Office

12-20+ yrs$250-450k+ · Multi-office ownership $350-600k+

•Full business ownership + P&L
•Multi-office growth
•Regional reputation

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 11 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your surgical case volume during residency.case

Concrete: Bunions (100-300), hammertoes (100-300), plantar fasciotomies (50-150), ankle procedures (30-100), trauma (100-300). Screens for real training + volume.

Q2. How would you manage a diabetic foot ulcer?case

Concrete: Debridement + offloading + wound care dressings + antibiotics if infected + vascular assessment + patient education on foot care. Multidisciplinary approach. Screens for evidence-based diabetic foot care.

Q3. Tell me about a complication you managed.behavioral

STAR. Real complication (infection, non-union, recurrent bunion). Ownership + management + learning. Screens for accountability.

Q4. Why our practice / hospital?culture

Research: patient population, surgical volume, team, growth. Concrete citation. Screens for genuine fit.

Q5. How do you decide when to operate vs conservative for bunion?case

Concrete: Symptomatic vs cosmetic. Failed conservative measures (padding, wide shoes, orthotics). Realistic expectations. Documentation. Never operate for cosmetic alone. Screens for surgical judgment.

Resume Template — Attending DPM (0-5 yrs post-residency)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Attending DPM (0-5 yrs post-residency)

▸Attending DPM, [Practice/Hospital]. Board eligible ABFAS. 2024 volume: 320 surgical cases + 3,200 outpatient visits.
▸Diabetic foot care specialty: 640 diabetic patient visits + 82 wound care cases in 2024.
▸Zero substantiated complications requiring hospitalization over 24 months.
▸Contracted with 6 major payers + Medicare. Bilingual English + Spanish.

What Gets You Rejected

✗Weak surgical case volume during residency.
✗Poor understanding of Medicare + billing coding.
✗History of infections or major complications without disclosure.
✗Bad-mouthing prior program or partners.
✗Weak business + practice management awareness.
✗Missing continuing education or ABFAS/ABPM eligibility.
✗Discomfort with diabetic foot or complex cases.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓Base + productivity (collections-based typical).
✓Sign-on bonus $15-50k common.
✓Loan repayment $50-150k over 3-5 years.
✓Partnership track 2-3 years with buy-in.
✓Hospital call pay + trauma coverage.
✓Malpractice tail coverage.
✓CME budget $4-10k/year.
✓Non-compete radius + duration.
✓Practice building + marketing support.

Podiatrists Resume Review — $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired podiatristss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

✓ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
✓ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
✓ Missing skills / keywords flagged
✓ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
✓ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Podiatrists Career Kit — $19

✓ All 11 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
✓ Interview format intel for 7 top employers
✓ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
✓ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
✓ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
✓ Detailed salary negotiation script
✓ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
✓ Downloadable PDF for offline access
✓ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription

✓ 7-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

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Podiatrists Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$93K

$266K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
District of Columbia	$265,740	+65.8%	0
Minnesota	$261,180	+62.9%	130
Oklahoma	$253,380	+58.1%	60
New Hampshire	$250,070	+56.0%	70
Washington	$232,970	+45.3%	140
Massachusetts	$217,700	+35.8%	170
North Carolina	$215,420	+34.4%	240
Connecticut	$212,760	+32.7%	170
Tennessee	$212,470	+32.5%	70
Oregon	$207,430	+29.4%	170

Showing 1–10 of 41

Podiatrists Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$287,400	+79.3%
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$254,570	+58.8%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$239,990	+49.7%
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$235,390	+46.8%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$232,970	+45.3%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$229,020	+42.9%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$228,380	+42.5%
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$227,140	+41.7%
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$222,530	+38.8%
New Haven, CT	$220,060	+37.3%

Showing 1–10 of 57

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A podiatrists earning $160,300/year would need 372 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 399 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

See all sports & celebrity salaries →

📈 See how podiatrists salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Podiatrists salary trend (2011–2024) →