The job market for podiatrists in the United States

There are currently an estimated 9,700 podiatrists in the United States. The podiatrist job market is expected to grow by 1.8% between 2024 and 2034.

How employable are podiatrists?

CareerExplorer rates podiatrists with a D employability rating, meaning this career should provide weak employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 200 podiatrists.

Are podiatrists in demand?

Job growth and demand in the podiatry field will be limited by the small size of the occupation and by the fact that most podiatrists practise for between forty and fifty years. While these factors mean that there is generally little movement of patients from one practitioner to another, some opportunities will occur on a consistent basis. As populations increase and age, the number of mobility and foot-related problems will grow. Rising rates of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, may lead to poor circulation in the feet and result in greater demand for podiatrists. In addition, a generally more active population will incur more injuries requiring podiatric treatment. The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that more than thirty million children in the U.S. participate in youth sports, many of them in ‘hyper-competitive and repetitive play.’ This has led to a significant increase in adolescent sports injuries, of which foot and ankle injuries are especially common. Employment of podiatrists would likely grow faster if not for sustained emphasis on controlling the costs of specialty health care. Insurers are expected to continue to balance the cost of referring patients to podiatrists against the cost and availability of general practitioners and physical therapists. Increasingly, podiatrists are forgoing solo practices and choosing to work along other health professionals in group practices, clinics, and health networks. Ongoing growth of outpatient podiatric surgery should create some additional openings. A small number of podiatrists transition into teaching, research, or administrative positions in hospitals or colleges of podiatry. In the United States, earning board certification in a specialty area from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) typically yields greater employment options. Establishing a practice will be most challenging in the geographic areas surrounding colleges of podiatric medicine, where podiatrists are concentrated.

What’s the supply of podiatrists?

The podiatrist industry is concentrated in New York, California, Florida

Podiatrist job market by state