Salary
Average Salary: $116,440
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $4,861,000
Like many medical specialists, podiatrists can earn a pretty decent living. Let's just say they can afford some seriously comfortable shoes, and should be able to sock away quite a nest egg. You'll definitely be able to foot the bill when taking guests out for dinner.
The national earnings average is between $220,000-$240,000 annually; definitely a tidy sum, and actually more than the average for private practice medical professionals. The average starting salary is closer to $150,000 a year, and to reach the big numbers you'll have to manage and promote your practice just like any other private small business (source).
Top earning docs can pull in over 350,000 Franklins. Salaries for joining an existing medical group tend to start lower, but top out at the same quarter mil mark. (source)
If you're thinking that a chunk of change like that would look pretty nice in your bank account, remember that you'll most likely have a substantial debt from the years of college and medical school, and that—if all goes well—you won't be starting your practice until you're close to thirty years old (which is ancient).