Podiatrists Salary
The median pay for a podiatrists in California is $201,300/year ($96.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $362K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $189,655 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $201K actually covers in California, month by month
About podiatrists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for podiatrists, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $160K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,471/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, California offers a genuinely strong financial position for podiatrists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level podiatrists (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $201K. Top earners bring in $362K or more, a $277K spread from bottom to top.
Podiatrists salary by metro in California
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $235K | +17% | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $206K | +2% | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $204K | +2% | 140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $201K | +0% | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $200K | -1% | 350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $197K | -2% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track podiatrists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a podiatrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $201K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for podiatrists in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new podiatrists typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,370/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is podiatrist a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 26% above the national median — $201K here vs. $160K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for podiatrists?
California pays $201K median vs. the U.S. average of $160K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $190K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do podiatrists make in California?
The median is $201,300 a year, that works out to about $97 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,480, and experienced podiatrists can clear $362,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $201K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,253/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 22% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a podiatrists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median podiatrists salary is worth about $189,655 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do podiatrists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.