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:
So what does $201K get you in California?
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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 podiatristss 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 quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
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 $5,129/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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.