What Does a Podiatrist Do?

A podiatrist diagnoses and treats medical problems affecting the feet and ankles to help people reduce pain and maintain mobility. The podiatrist evaluates symptoms and health history, examines the foot, and decides whether tests are needed to clarify the cause. Based on the findings, the podiatrist develops a treatment plan and monitors whether it improves symptoms or function. Care may include nonsurgical treatment or surgery, depending on the condition and the patient’s needs. Podiatrists also recognize when a problem calls for coordination with other clinicians, supporting safe and appropriate care.

What Is a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist is a health care professional who provides medical and surgical care for problems affecting the feet, ankles, and lower legs. Patients may seek care for pain, injuries, skin or nail conditions, structural changes, or foot complications related to a broader health condition. Podiatrists assess the problem and recommend care suited to its cause and effect on the patient’s daily life. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes podiatrists as providing medical and surgical care for foot, ankle, and lower-leg problems.

What Are the Main Responsibilities of a Podiatrist?

A podiatrist’s core responsibility is to identify what is causing a patient’s symptoms and determine an appropriate course of care. The podiatrist asks about the problem’s onset and how it changes with activity, then examines the affected area. When useful, the exam may include observing the patient stand or walk to understand how foot movement relates to symptoms. Medical history also matters because conditions such as diabetes can affect sensation, circulation, and healing.

The podiatrist decides whether diagnostic tests could clarify the problem or change treatment. For example, an X-ray may help assess bone or joint alignment. Test results are considered alongside the patient’s history and examination rather than in isolation.

Treatment depends on the diagnosis, the patient’s health, and the extent to which the condition interferes with daily activity. The plan may involve changes to footwear or activity, an orthotic device, or a procedure to address a painful skin or nail problem. If a structural condition continues to cause significant symptoms despite nonsurgical care, the podiatrist may discuss whether surgery is appropriate. The podiatrist also monitors the response to treatment and may coordinate care or refer the patient when another clinician’s expertise is needed.

What Does a Podiatrist Do on a Daily Basis?

A typical workday often begins with reviewing scheduled patients’ records and preparing for their visits. During an appointment, the podiatrist listens to the patient’s concerns and asks questions about symptoms, health history, and how the problem affects walking or other activities. The podiatrist then examines the foot and ankle, explains the findings, and decides whether further testing or a treatment change is warranted.

After the examination, the podiatrist discusses a care plan with the patient and explains what to monitor or do next. Depending on the patient and setting, the day may also involve performing a procedure, arranging follow-up, or communicating with another clinician about a related health concern. Podiatrists who perform surgery have additional responsibilities related to surgical care and follow-up. Those who own a practice may also spend time on business operations.

What Skills Does a Podiatrist Need?

Clinical reasoning helps a podiatrist distinguish between conditions that can cause similar symptoms. For instance, the podiatrist weighs the examination and health history against test results before deciding whether pain is likely to improve with conservative treatment or needs further assessment. Attention to detail matters when assessing skin, nails, circulation, or changes that may affect healing.

Communication skills help podiatrists explain a diagnosis and make a treatment plan understandable. A patient who needs to change footwear or limit an activity should understand why that step matters and how progress will be assessed. Compassion is useful when a patient is in pain or worried about mobility. Interpersonal skills support coordination with other clinicians when a patient’s care involves more than podiatry. BLS identifies communication, compassion, critical thinking, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills as important qualities for podiatrists.

How Much Does a Podiatrist Earn?

The BLS reports that the median annual wage for podiatrists was $160,300 in May 2025. A median is the midpoint: half of workers earned more and half earned less. Pay differed by industry; BLS reported a median of $207,240 in physicians’ offices and $132,290 in hospitals for the same month. These figures are national occupational estimates, not a starting salary or a guarantee of what a particular employer will offer.

What Is the Career Progression for a Podiatrist?

In the United States, entry into the occupation requires a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from an accredited podiatric medical school, followed by a podiatric medicine and surgery residency. Podiatrists also need a license in the state where they practice. The BLS outlines these education, residency, and licensure requirements.

After establishing a practice, a podiatrist may build deeper expertise in an area such as wound care, diabetic foot care, or limb preservation through optional fellowship training. Some focus their work on surgery or a particular patient population. Others take on practice ownership or management responsibilities alongside clinical care. BLS projects employment of podiatrists to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 200 openings per year on average during that period; most projected openings are expected to replace workers who leave the occupation or labor force. These are national projections and do not guarantee openings in a specific location.

How Contingent Workforce Management Helps Businesses Hire Podiatrists

Contingent workforce management services help businesses arrange and administer time-limited workers when staffing needs change. A clinic launching a new location or extending appointment hours may need a podiatrist for a defined coverage period while it evaluates longer-term demand. The practice can hire a worker directly and use third-party payrolling to manage employment administration, which can be a lower-cost alternative to using a staffing agency.

TCWGlobal helps companies manage contingent podiatrists through payrolling and workforce support. When a clinic has already selected a podiatrist for temporary coverage, these services can handle payroll and related administrative work without requiring the company to outsource candidate sourcing to a staffing agency. That arrangement can reduce agency costs and lessen the administrative work involved in managing the assignment.