Occupation · SOC 29-1081
Podiatrists
Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot.
Median wage
$152,800
$57,500–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
9,520
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
1 mapped
Core skills
Active LearningReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingWriting
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Medical softwareElectronic mail softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareData base user interface and query softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
Representative tasks
Diagnose diseases and deformities of the foot using medical histories, physical examinations, x-rays, and laboratory test results.Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.Advise patients about treatments and foot care techniques necessary for prevention of future problems.Prescribe medications, corrective devices, physical therapy, or surgery.Surgically treat conditions such as corns, calluses, ingrown nails, tumors, shortened tendons, bunions, cysts, or abscesses.Refer patients to physicians when symptoms indicative of systemic disorders, such as arthritis or diabetes, are observed in feet and legs.Make and fit prosthetic appliances.Correct deformities by means of plaster casts and strapping.Perform administrative duties, such as hiring employees, ordering supplies, or keeping records.Educate the public about the benefits of foot care through techniques such as speaking engagements, advertising, and other forums.Treat deformities using mechanical methods, such as whirlpool or paraffin baths, and electrical methods, such as short wave and low voltage currents.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient medical histories and physical examination findings — collect and document under direct attending supervision in an outpatient podiatric clinic.Diagnostic imaging and laboratory test results — interpret basic foot and ankle pathology findings with guidance from a supervising podiatrist in a clinical training setting.Common foot conditions such as corns, calluses, and ingrown nails — identify and classify using established diagnostic criteria during supervised patient encounters.Bone, muscle, and joint disorder terminology — apply accurately when recording clinical notes in an electronic health record system under faculty oversight.Preventive foot care techniques — communicate to patients using approved patient education materials under direct clinical supervision.Corrective devices such as orthotics and strapping — assist in fitting and application following established protocols in a supervised clinic environment.Standard medication classes used in podiatric care — recognize indications and contraindications when reviewing prescribing decisions with a supervising physician.Systemic disorders manifesting in the lower extremities — recognize common warning signs and escalate promptly to the supervising attending in a clinical rotation setting.Plaster casts and basic immobilization techniques — apply under direct supervision using established procedural guidelines in an acute care podiatric setting.Medical software and electronic health record platforms — navigate and enter structured data accurately during supervised patient care workflows.
developing
Bone, muscle, and joint disorders of the foot and ankle — assess and treat routine cases with reduced oversight using evidence-based clinical protocols in an independent practice setting.Comprehensive foot and ankle diagnoses — formulate by integrating medical histories, physical examinations, radiographic findings, and laboratory results across a consistent patient caseload.Patient education regarding foot care and injury prevention — deliver clearly and adapt to individual health literacy levels during scheduled clinical appointments.Prescription medications and corrective devices — select and prescribe for common podiatric conditions in accordance with scope-of-practice regulations and formulary guidelines.Surgical interventions for conditions such as bunions, cysts, and shortened tendons — perform routine procedures with standard anesthetic protocols in an outpatient surgical suite.Referral decisions to primary care or specialist physicians — execute in a timely manner when lower-extremity signs suggest systemic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.Prosthetic appliances — fabricate and fit for patients with partial foot amputations or structural deformities using established measurement and casting techniques.Physical therapy and rehabilitation regimens — coordinate with allied health professionals to implement post-operative and conservative care plans for podiatric patients.Clinical documentation and coding — complete accurately and efficiently using practice management software to meet billing compliance requirements.Complex problem-solving in non-emergency cases — apply systematic clinical reasoning to differentiate between overlapping foot pathologies in an ambulatory care environment.
proficient
Multifaceted bone, muscle, and joint disorders of the foot and ankle — diagnose and manage autonomously across a full spectrum of complexity in a high-volume podiatric practice.Advanced surgical procedures including tumor excision, tendon repair, and deformity correction — perform independently while managing intraoperative complications in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center.Non-routine diagnostic challenges involving atypical presentations — resolve through systematic application of inductive and deductive reasoning using multimodal diagnostic tools.Customized orthotics and prosthetic appliances — design, fit, and modify for patients with complex biomechanical or post-amputation needs in a specialty clinic environment.Patient-specific treatment plans integrating surgery, pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, and corrective devices — develop and execute for medically complex populations including diabetic and geriatric patients.Lower-extremity manifestations of systemic diseases — evaluate comprehensively and collaborate with endocrinologists, rheumatologists, and vascular surgeons to coordinate multidisciplinary care.Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines — critically appraise and integrate into practice protocols, adapting recommendations to individual patient circumstances.Plaster cast application and corrective strapping for structural deformities — execute with precision and monitor outcomes through iterative patient follow-up in an orthopedic or podiatric specialty setting.Patient communication regarding complex treatment options and surgical risks — conduct with clarity and empathy to support fully informed shared decision-making.Practice quality metrics and clinical outcomes — monitor systematically and implement process improvements to elevate standard of care within the podiatric practice.
advanced
Podiatric care delivery models and departmental clinical standards — design and implement at organizational scale across a hospital system, academic medical center, or multi-site group practice.Residency training programs and clinical education curricula — develop and oversee to shape the next generation of podiatric physicians in accredited training environments.Research initiatives investigating foot and ankle pathology, surgical techniques, or biomechanical interventions — lead and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and professional conferences.Scope-of-practice policies and credentialing criteria for podiatric surgery — establish and advocate for at institutional and regulatory levels to advance the profession.Interprofessional care teams managing complex lower-extremity conditions — lead strategic coordination across surgery, endocrinology, vascular medicine, and rehabilitation within integrated health systems.Systems-level analysis of patient outcomes, complication rates, and resource utilization — conduct to inform evidence-based quality improvement programs across podiatric service lines.Mentorship and professional development frameworks for early-career and mid-career podiatrists — create and champion to build organizational clinical capacity and succession pipelines.Adoption of emerging medical technologies, surgical instrumentation, and digital health tools — evaluate and guide at the enterprise level to advance diagnostic accuracy and procedural outcomes.Healthcare economics and administrative strategy for podiatric service line growth — direct in collaboration with executive leadership to ensure financial sustainability and patient access.Ethical frameworks and professional standards governing podiatric practice — model, articulate, and embed into organizational culture to ensure integrity and patient-centered care across all clinical environments.
Also known as
56 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Orthopedic Surgeon, Traumatology (Air Force 45B4H)Podiatric SurgeonOrthopedic Surgeon, Spine Surgery (Air Force 45B3E)Orthopedic Surgeon (Air Force 45B1)Doctor of PodiatryOrthopedic Surgeon, Pediatrics (Air Force 45B4B)Orthopedic Surgeon, Hand Surgery (Air Force 45B1A)Orthopedic Surgeon (Army 61M)Orthopedic Surgeon, Spine Surgery (Air Force 45B1E)Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)Podiatry Doctor (DP)Orthopedic Technician (Navy L26A)Orthopedic Surgeon, Replacement Arthroplasty (Air Force 45B1G)Orthopedic Surgeon (Navy 0244)Pharmacy (Army 67E)Podiatric Medicine Doctor (DPM)Orthopedic Surgeon, Replacement Arthroplasty (Air Force 45B4G)Optometry (Army 67F)ChiropodistOrthopedic Surgeon, Pediatrics (Air Force 45B3B)Orthopedic Surgeon, Oncology (Air Force 45B1F)PodiatristOrthopedic Specialist (Army 68B)Podiatric PhysicianAttending PhysicianOrthopedic Cast Room Technician (Navy 001265)Foot DoctorDoctor Podiatric Medicine (DPM)Orthopedic Surgeon, Sports Medicine (Air Force 45B1D)Preventive Medicine Sciences (Army 67C)Orthopedic Surgeon, Traumatology (Air Force 45B3H)Orthopedic Surgeon (Air Force 45B4)Behavioral Sciences (Army 67D)Orthopedic PodiatristOrthopedic Surgeon, Spine Surgery (Air Force 45B4E)Foot and Ankle SurgeonOrthopedic Surgeon, Oncology (Air Force 45B3F)Orthopedic Surgeon (Air Force 45BX)Orthopedic Surgeon (Air Force 45B3)Orthopedic Surgeon, Traumatology (Air Force 45B1H)