Career comparison
Chiropractor vs. Podiatrist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Podiatrists earn more at the median ($160,300 vs. $79,200), while chiropractors usually get to work faster (7–8 years after high school of training). Chiropractors treat back, neck and joint problems with hands-on adjustments. Podiatrists diagnose and treat problems of the foot, ankle and lower leg.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chiropractor | Podiatrist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $79,200 ($38.08/hr) | $160,300 ($77.07/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $43,460 – $146,080 | $66,010 – $309,670 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +8.7% (much faster than average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,600 | 200 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 7–8 years after high school | 11 years after high school |
| Key credential | NBCE exams | APMLE exams |
| Work setting | Chiropractors work in private offices, group clinics and sports settings.. | Podiatrists work in private offices, hospitals, wound care centers and surgery centers.. |
What each job does
Chiropractor
- Take histories and examine patients
- Assess posture and spine
- Order and read X-rays
- Perform spinal adjustments
- Use soft-tissue and manual therapy
Podiatrist
- Examine feet and ankles
- Diagnose injuries and conditions
- Treat wounds and infections
- Prescribe orthotics
- Perform foot and ankle surgery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, hands-on work, and high-pay. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose chiropractor if…
- I like hands-on care
- I want to run my own practice
- I enjoy anatomy
Choose podiatrist if…
- I want a medical specialty
- I like surgery and clinic work
- I want to help people stay mobile
Still torn? Take the Chiropractor fit quiz and the Podiatrist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chiropractor or podiatrist?
Podiatrists earn more at the median: $160,300 versus $79,200 for chiropractors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chiropractors typically train faster (7–8 years after high school) than podiatrists (11 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects chiropractors to grow +8.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for podiatrists.