Podiatrists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: Who Earns More?
Podiatrists out-earn Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses by $96K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Podiatrists land at $160,300 and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses at $64,400. The education gap is real: podiatrist programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Podiatrists is District of Columbia ($265,740); for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses it's Washington ($83,150).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Podiatrists median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Podiatrists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Podiatrists earn more nationally. The median is $160,300 for Podiatrists versus $64,400 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, a difference of $96K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Podiatrists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses has the better 10-year outlook at 2.6% projected growth, compared to 1.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Podiatrists or Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Podiatrists typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Podiatrists get paid the most?
District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Podiatrists at $265,740/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Podiatrists vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Podiatrists earn $265,740 vs. $75,740 for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.