Career comparison
Orthotist and Prosthetist 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. $81,110), while orthotist and prosthetists usually get to work faster (6–7 years of training). Orthotist and prosthetists design and fit braces and artificial limbs that help people move. 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
| Orthotist and Prosthetist | Podiatrist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $81,110 ($38.99/hr) | $160,300 ($77.07/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,350 – $119,810 | $66,010 – $309,670 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +12.9% (much faster than average) | +2.0% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 200 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–7 years | 11 years after high school |
| Key credential | Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) | APMLE exams |
| Work setting | Practitioners work in O&P clinics, hospitals and rehab centers.. | Podiatrists work in private offices, hospitals, wound care centers and surgery centers.. |
What each job does
Orthotist and Prosthetist
- Evaluate patients’ needs
- Take casts, measurements and scans
- Design orthoses and prostheses
- Fit and adjust devices
- Train patients to use devices
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, indoor work, and high-pay. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose orthotist and prosthetist if…
- I want to help people move
- I like hands-on design
- I enjoy biomechanics
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 Orthotist and Prosthetist fit quiz and the Podiatrist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, orthotist and prosthetist or podiatrist?
Podiatrists earn more at the median: $160,300 versus $81,110 for orthotist and prosthetists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Orthotist and Prosthetists typically train faster (6–7 years) than podiatrists (11 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects orthotist and prosthetists to grow +12.9% from 2025–35, compared with +2.0% for podiatrists.