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The differences between podiatrists and optometrists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optometrist has an average salary of $187,654, which is higher than the $94,771 average annual salary of a podiatrist.
The top three skills for a podiatrist include patients, EMR and patient care. The most important skills for an optometrist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.
| Podiatrist | Optometrist | |
| Yearly salary | $94,771 | $187,654 |
| Hourly rate | $45.56 | $90.22 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 16,003 | 20,993 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 47 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
As a podiatrist, the responsibility is to diagnose and advise treatment of minor or serious injuries and diseases of the feet, ankles, and the lower part of legs. They examine patient's leg and even perform surgeries concerning the foot and ankle, prescribing orthotics and step by step application of treatments for issues like arthritis, including fractures and calluses. They also review the patient's medical history and advice the patient's foot care. This role requires a doctoral degree and experience in a hospital or clinic.
A licensed optometrist is primarily responsible for the vision and eye care of clients, treating different conditions such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Their duties mostly revolve around performing eye and vision tests, diagnosing issues, providing consultations, prescribing corrective glasses and lenses, and educating clients on proper eye care methods. Furthermore, an optometrist must maintain records of all cases and treatment plans, and supervise support staff should they choose to work at a private clinic or a similar setting.
Podiatrists and optometrists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Podiatrist | Optometrist | |
| Average salary | $94,771 | $187,654 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $181,000 | Between $94,000 And $373,000 |
| Highest paying City | Rockville, MD | Greensboro, NC |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | North Carolina |
| Best paying company | Baylor Scott & White Health | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a podiatrist and an optometrist in terms of educational background:
| Podiatrist | Optometrist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Podiatric Medicine | Optometry |
| Most common college | Kent State University | University of California, Berkeley |
Here are the differences between podiatrists' and optometrists' demographics:
| Podiatrist | Optometrist | |
| Average age | 47 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.9% Female, 60.1% | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.0% Asian, 13.3% White, 73.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.2% Asian, 17.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 36% | 18% |