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Jobs, Salaries and Career after Masters in Podiatric Medicine - Updated 2023
2020 median Pay for Podiatric Medicine
The median annual wage for podiatrists was $134,300 in May 2020.
Pay
Podiatrists may work closely with physicians and surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and medical assistants. Work Schedules Most podiatrists work full time. Podiatrists’ offices may be open in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate patients. Self-employed podiatrists or those who own their practice may set their own hours. In hospitals, podiatrists may have to work occasional nights or weekends, or may be on call.
Best paying jobs for Health and Wellness - Updated 2022
Number of Jobs for Podiatric Medicine
Number of Jobs in 2020 was 12,100
Education required
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Outlook for Podiatric Medicine
Employment of podiatrists is projected to grow 2 percent from 2020 to 2030, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 900 openings for podiatrists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Job description of Podiatric Medicine
Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. They diagnose illnesses, treat injuries, and perform surgery involving the lower extremities.
Duties
Podiatrists typically do the following:
- Assess the condition of a patient’s feet, ankles, or lower legs by reviewing the patient’s medical history, listening to his or her concerns, and performing a physical examination
- Diagnose foot, ankle, and lower leg problems through physical exams, x rays, medical laboratory tests, and other methods
- Provide treatment for foot, ankle, and lower leg ailments, such as prescribing special shoe inserts (orthotics) to improve a patient’s mobility
- Perform foot and ankle surgeries, such as removing bone spurs, fracture repairs, and correcting other foot and ankle deformities
- Advise and instruct patients on foot and ankle care and on general wellness techniques
- Prescribe medications
- Coordinate patient care with other physicians
- Refer patients to other physicians or specialists if they detect larger health problems, such as diabetes or vascular disease
- Conduct research, read journals, and attend conferences to keep up with advances in podiatric medicine and surgery
Podiatrists treat a variety of foot and ankle ailments, including calluses, ingrown toenails, heel spurs, arthritis, congenital foot and ankle deformities, and arch problems. They also treat foot and leg problems associated with diabetes and other diseases. Some podiatrists spend most of their time performing surgery, such as foot and ankle reconstruction. Others may choose a specialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, or diabetic foot care.
Podiatrists who own their practice may spend time on business-related activities, such as hiring employees and managing inventory.
How to become Podiatric Medicine
Podiatrists must earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and complete a 3-year residency program. Every state requires podiatrists to be licensed.
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. In 2017, there were 9 colleges of podiatric medicine accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education.
Admission to podiatric medicine programs requires at least 3 years of undergraduate education, including specific courses in laboratory sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as general coursework in subjects such as English. In practice, nearly all prospective podiatrists earn a bachelor’s degree before attending a college of podiatric medicine. Admission to DPM programs requires taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Courses for a DPM degree are similar to those for other medical degrees. They include anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology, among other subjects. During their last 2 years, podiatric medical students gain supervised experience by completing clinical rotations.
Training
After earning a DPM, podiatrists must apply to and complete a 3-year podiatric medicine and surgery residency (PMSR) program. Residency programs take place in hospitals and provide both medical and surgical experience.
Podiatrists may complete additional training in specific fellowship areas, such as podiatric wound care or diabetic foot care, among others.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Podiatrists in every state must be licensed. Podiatrists must pay a fee and pass all parts of the American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exam (APMLE), offered by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners. Some states also require podiatrists to take a state-specific exam.
Many podiatrists choose to become board certified. Certification generally requires a combination of work experience and passing an exam. Board certification is offered by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the American Board of Multiple Specialties in Podiatry.
Important Qualities
Compassion. Since podiatrists provide care for patients who may be in pain, they must treat patients with compassion and understanding.
Critical-thinking skills. Podiatrists must have a sharp, analytical mind to correctly diagnose a patient and determine the best course of treatment.
Detail oriented. To provide safe, effective healthcare, a podiatrist should be detail oriented. For example, a podiatrist must pay attention to a patient’s medical history as well as current conditions when diagnosing a problem.
Interpersonal skills. Because podiatrists spend much of their time interacting with patients, they should listen well and communicate effectively. For example, they should be able to tell a patient who is slated to undergo surgery what to expect and calm his or her fears.
What people in similar profession do
| Job Title | What they do | How to become one |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic | Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. | Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. Other postsecondary teachers may need work experience in their field of expertise. Education Postsecondary teachers who work for 4-year colleges and universities typically need a Ph.D. or other doctorate in their field of degree. |
| Dentistry | Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. | Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. Other postsecondary teachers may need work experience in their field of expertise. Education Postsecondary teachers who work for 4-year colleges and universities typically need a Ph.D. or other doctorate in their field of degree. |
| Medicine | Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. | Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years. Education In addition to requiring a bachelor’s degree, physicians and surgeons typically need either a Medical Doctor (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. |
| Osteopathic Medicine | Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance. | Physicians and surgeons typically need a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree from a medical school, which takes an additional 4 years to complete. Depending on their specialty, they also need 3 to 9 years in internship and residency programs. Subspecialization includes additional training in a fellowship of 1 to 3 years. Education In addition to requiring a bachelor’s degree, physicians and surgeons typically need either a Medical Doctor (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. |
| Podiatric Medicine | Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems. | Podiatrists must earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree and complete a 3-year residency program. Every state requires podiatrists to be licensed. 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. |
| Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality | Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. | Most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree before entering the field. However, master’s degrees are common and sometimes preferred by employers. Educational requirements vary by facility and specific function. Education Medical and health services managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. |
| Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management | Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. | Most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree before entering the field. However, master’s degrees are common and sometimes preferred by employers. Educational requirements vary by facility and specific function. Education Medical and health services managers typically need at least a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. |
| Genetic Counseling/Counselor | Genetic counselors assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. | Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree in genetic counseling or genetics, and board certification. Education Genetic counselors typically need a master’s degree in genetic counseling or genetics. Coursework in genetic counseling includes public health, epidemiology, psychology, and developmental biology. Classes emphasize genetics, public health, and patient empathy. Students also must complete clinical rotations, during which they work directly with patients and clients. |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being. Community health workers promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. | Health education specialists typically need at least bachelor’s degree. Some employers require or prefer that health education specialists be certified. Community health workers typically need at least a high school diploma and must complete a brief period of on-the-job training. Some states have certification programs for community health workers. Education Health education specialists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in health education or health promotion. |
Job Outlook for other majors in Health and Wellness
| Job Title | Number of jobs | Median Salary | Job outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Wellness | 125200 | $48140 | Much faster than average |
| Chiropractic | 1276900 | $80560 | Faster than average |
| Dentistry | 1276900 | $80560 | Faster than average |
| Medicine | 727000 | $ | Slower than average |
| Osteopathic Medicine | 727000 | $ | Slower than average |
| Podiatric Medicine | 12100 | $134300 | Slower than average |
| Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality | 429800 | $104280 | Much faster than average |
| Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management | 429800 | $104280 | Much faster than average |
| Genetic Counseling/Counselor | 2400 | $85700 | Much faster than average |
| Public Health Education and Promotion | 125200 | $48140 | Much faster than average |
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Source and Credit : Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
