What Podiatrists Do

Podiatrists provide medical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. They diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and perform surgery involving the lower extremities.

Work Environment

Most podiatrists work in offices of podiatry, either on their own or with other podiatrists. Some work in group practices with other physicians or specialists. Others work in private and public hospitals and outpatient care centers.

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.

Job Outlook

Employment of podiatrists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for medical and surgical care of the foot and ankle will stem from the aging population. Podiatrists will also be needed to treat patients with foot and ankle conditions caused by chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 10,700 jobs in 2012 and 9,600 jobs in 2014, reflecting a decline of 10.3%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 22.4% in 2022 to 13,100 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 11,100, compared with an observed value of 9,600, 13.5% lower than expected. This indicates current employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 13.1% in 2024 to 11,000 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 13,500 jobs for 2024, 22.7% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Podiatrists Employment and Labor Information 2023

Podiatrists Employment Brief:

Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.

Podiatrists Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Podiatrists.

Podiatrists Responsibilities and Duties:

• Refer patients to physicians when symptoms indicative of systemic disorders, such as arthritis or diabetes, are observed in feet and legs.
• Correct deformities by means of plaster casts and strapping.
• Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.
• Make and fit prosthetic appliances.
• Perform administrative duties, such as hiring employees, ordering supplies, or keeping records.
• Treat deformities using mechanical methods, such as whirlpool or paraffin baths, and electrical methods, such as short wave and low voltage currents.
• 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.
• Educate the public about the benefits of foot care through techniques such as speaking engagements, advertising, and other forums.
• Surgically treat conditions such as corns, calluses, ingrown nails, tumors, shortened tendons, bunions, cysts, or abscesses.

Typical Daily Tasks of Podiatrists:

• Assisting and Caring for Others: Operate on patients to treat conditions. Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources. Treat chronic diseases or disorders. Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Maintain medical facility records.
• Working with Computers.
• Getting Information.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Diagnose medical conditions.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.
• Processing Information.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public.

Podiatrists Skills and Requirements:

• Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• SpreadsheetsUsing a computer application to enter, manipulate, and format text and numerical data; insert, delete, and manipulate cells, rows, and columns; and create and save worksheets, charts, and graphs.
• GraphicsWorking with pictures in graphics programs or other applications, including creating simple graphics, manipulating the appearance, and inserting graphics into other programs.
• Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• InternetNavigating the Internet to find information, including the ability to open and configure standard browsers; use searches, hypertext references, and transfer protocols; and send and retrieve electronic mail (e-mail).
• Management of Financial Resources Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
• Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Podiatrists Education and Training:

Typical education for include: Doctoral or professional degree.

Podiatrists Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Podiatrists average pay is: $71.5 per hour according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in Offices of Physicians are the highest paid making $97.24, while Offices of Other Health Practitioners make the least at $66.17 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Podiatrists: