Salary Of Chiropodist

A chiropodist is actually another name for podiatrist, a doctor who treats foot disorders and diseases. The career is well-respected and vital today. And if you can stomach the thought of working with people's feet, you have found yourself one lucrative career. The top 25 percent of these professionals earned more than $168,390 per year, according to May 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Chiropodist's in 2011 made an average annual salary of $133,870, according to the BLS. Income in this field is largely dictated by experience, type of employer and locale. If you are among the 74 percent of chiropodists working for an employer full time, your benefits would likely include major medical, paid time off and a retirement plan.

Salaries for chiropodists vary significantly by state. Consider moving near the Rocky Mountains if you want to earn the most in this field. Chiropodists in Colorado made $176,340 annually, according to the BLS. Incomes were also relatively high in Michigan and Kentucky, where chiropodists earned $171,700 and $150,410 per year, respectively. Despite a higher living cost, these professionals earned annual salaries closer to the national average in California at $129,820.

Your first step to becoming a chiropodist is to get a bachelor's degree. A curriculum replete with science courses, including chemistry, biology and anatomy, would set you in the right direction. You would then need to pass the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, in order to gain admission to medical school, where four years of study would earn you a doctor of podiatric medicine degree. You must then tackle three years of residency in a clinical setting. And then passing a state license exam officially makes you a chiropodist.

There is no shortage of foot problems in the United States. Jobs for chiropodists are expected to increase by 20 percent between 2010 and 2020, according to the BLS. Much of the demand for these services will be driven by an aging population. People also continue to be more active in sports and working out, which can cause injuries like stress fractures. You may find yourself more likely to work with other medical professionals in one building as a chiropodist. Group practices will continue to be more common as a way to share expenses.

Podiatrists earned a median annual salary of $129,550 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, podiatrists earned a 10th percentile salary of $78,130, meaning 90 percent earned more than this amount. The 90th percentile salary is $182,420, meaning 10 percent earn more. In 2018, 10,500 people were employed in the U.S. as podiatrists.