In this segment of our website, we want to present the career path of How to Become a Podiatrist. You can learn What a Podiatrist Does. Additionally, in our section on Personal finance, you can learn How Much a Podiatrist Cost and How Much Podiatrist charges to Cut Toenails.
What is a podiatrist?
Podiatrists are medical professionals specializing in treating the foot, ankle, and related leg structures. Additionally, podiatrists prevent, diagnose and treat additional foot problems such as ankle and lower limb conditions, nerve damage in the feet, and foot sports injuries.
A podiatrist is a foot specialist specializing in diagnosing, treating, and preventing conditions affecting the human foot. They are typically trained to provide medical and surgical treatments for lower limb disorders such as bunions, ingrown toenails, heel pain, and arch pain. They are also qualified to assess and treat biomechanical problems that can lead to poor balance or difficulty walking.
Podiatrists are also tasked with providing general advice on foot care, including recommending proper footwear with flat soles and toes that support healthy feet and preventing common injuries from activities like running and sports. Podiatrists may also recommend lifestyle modifications to patients to relieve symptoms from painful lower limb conditions.
So let us see what they do :
What does a podiatrist do?
Podiatrists prevent, diagnose and treat the following foot problems:
- A foul odor emanating from your feet
- The state of your toenails
- Athlete’s foot that does not go away
- Flora of the toenails
- Injuries from sports
- Calluses
- Warts
- Bunions
- Footwear with flat soles, toe
- Ingrown toenails
- Heel and arch pain
- Leg skin problems
- Balance issues
- Sprains
In addition to medically treating foot problems, podiatrists are well-versed in assessing the state of your nails and dealing with any flora issues that may arise. They can remove calluses or corns which form due to ill-fitting shoes, as well as treat any warts that may appear on the feet or legs.
It’s not unusual for podiatrists to diagnose skin diseases such as psoriasis on your feet or legs, too; they will be able to give you the right advice on how best to treat these kinds of ailments, so your lower limbs continue in good health. On top of this, they can be invaluable if you suffer from a foul odor emanating from your feet due to excessive sweating – they can teach you specific hygiene measures which help reduce bad smells while keeping your skin in tip-top condition.
Regular trips to visit a qualified podiatrist are vital if you want optimum health for your feet – they are skilled professionals who have undergone extensive training, so they can accurately diagnose any underlying issues before prescribing a practical course of treatment tailored specifically for you. To find a reputable podiatrist near you, you should check online directories, word-of-mouth recommendations, or, better still, ask your primary healthcare provider for guidance.
How much do podiatrists make?
Podiatrists make annually $150 000 on average in the US. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics statistics, podiatrists earn approximately $73 per hour.
Podiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. They play a critical role in caring for patients with bunions, hammertoes, sprains and fractures, arch pain, and heel spurs. As part of their job duties, podiatrists perform physical exams on patients’ feet, prescribe medications and immobilization devices, provide wound care for diabetic patients, and offer therapeutic exercises to help improve foot function. In addition to these core responsibilities, podiatrists also counsel patients regarding preventive measures to reduce future problems. Becoming a podiatrist requires a significant amount of training, including completing an undergraduate degree program in pre-medicine or biology followed by four years of study at an accredited school of podiatric medicine.
In return for the educational commitment required to be a successful podiatrist, those working in this profession can expect to earn a good salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual pay for all types of physicians and surgeons was $208 440 in 2019. In comparison, BLS data indicates that the median yearly wage for podiatrists was slightly lower at $153 050 per year in 2019, which is approximately $73 per hour based on an 8-hour workday.
The top 10 percent earned more than $209 060 while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $94 820 annually during this time. These figures are likely biased upward because they do not account for self-employed practitioners who typically make higher salaries due to their ability to charge higher fees than those employed by health systems or clinics.
Geographic location is another factor that can impact how much money a podiatrist makes each year, with salaries varying significantly from state to state due to differences in cost of living costs as well as other economic factors such as competition levels among providers or demand for services within certain regions.
For example, according to BLS survey results collected between 2018-2022 Alaska had the highest average salary rate for podiatrists at $215 780 while South Dakota had the lowest average pay rate at $110 600 per annum making it one of two states where wages were below national averages during this period (with Rhode Island being second). Other states offering above-average earnings included California ($187 270), New York ($193 540), Texas ($184 690), Tennessee ($177 470), Florida ($176 110), Virginia ($168 890), Massachusetts ($167 420) Maryland ($168 590).
The earning potential available through private practice is also higher than jobs within hospitals or health systems since individual practitioners may have more flexible fee structures allowing them to charge more for services provided compared with those employed by employers who often limit reimbursement rates charged for services rendered due to budget constraints imposed by managed care organizations (MCOs).
Furthermore, many individuals seek out specialists outside their geographical area, which can lead to increased opportunities for local clients and “medical tourists” looking for specialized care not available in their home towns or countries. By taking advantage of these unique circumstances, highly motivated practitioners can certainly exceed national averages regarding how much money they make each year practicing medicine as a professional podiatrist.
After leaving Wells Fargo Bank in 2014, Daniel began a career as a finance consultant, advising companies and individuals on economic policy, labor relations, and financial management.
At Promtfinance.com, Daniel writes about personal finance topics, value estimation, budgeting strategies, retirement planning, and portfolio diversification.
Read more on Daniel Smith's biography page.
Contact Daniel: daniel@promtfinance.com