Hope you dont mind my naive questions

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Any answer is a appreciated!

So basically Im interested in pursuing a podiatry degree in University of Newcastle and did complete "google check" and the answers Ive obtained are at best vague. Thus i need help from the people who have actually done it.

Im really profit/money driven and Im really enticed by the many articles claiming podiatry as second to dentistry in the health profession. However Ive noticed that most of these articles are from America and does not reflect true in countries such as Australia, UK etc. So my question is why does the american articles claim the mean annual salary to be US170000 per annum while British articles claim the mean annual salary to be 30000 pounds. (I.e my true question is, is podiatry a lucrative field to be in?)

 

Podiatry isn't for you

 

Yeah thanks for the fast reply, I hoped you'd phrase it in a kinder manner. But Ill assume that means it doesnt pay well...

 

"Naive" question exactly. Perhaps banking might be a wiser choice for those who claim to be purely "profit/money driven"...however, if you decide to grow up and think long and hard about what really matters in life, you might discover that there are more important factors when considering your career path. Rather than looking at what pays you the most, why don't you work out what you have a passion for? Sounds more like cash than feet...

 

No offense but i dont really need life lessons, I just want to know the prospects of a career in podiatry so can anyone tell me if podiatry is on par with other medical specialty such as dentistry and ophthalmology cause i just dont want to shoulder the heavy tuition loan for med school.

 

Newbie,

Your request for infomation RE; 'Is podiatry a lucrative field?'

My perspective: I worked hard at college to attain the necessary qualifications to gain entry to a UK university. I was accepted onto the degree & completed 3 years to achieve my degree.

I was initially employed by the NHS which was a good starting point for my new career. I have now been qualified for 12 years & I love my job.

My student debts are behind me & I now enjoy the onward journey in my career.

I have never been money orientated. I chose podiatry because I love people. I enjoy the daily challenges the job brings.

Lucrative? If you are in any job just for the money then financial reward may be achieved.

But! Can this money bring fulfilment if your view of your career is purely fiscally motivated.

Would the temptation of a bigger car motivate you to sell something an individual did not need?

My advice, for what it's worth. Do something you enjoy. There are enough miserable millionaires in this world spending money on therapy because their yacht, car, mansion & football team no longer provide satisfaction.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the reply.
Seems most pods here have a passion for what they are doing so i might be barking up the wrong tree.

 

Perhaps if your intentions are purely egocentric then The Government may be a better aim.

:empathy:

 

Bit rough, fair question I think. In my opinion, yes it can pay well, IF you work hard. But, I wouldnt be comparing it to other fields, like the others have said, choose a career that interests you, something you will enjoy. Anyone that says that money isnt important in choosing a career would be lying, but its very subjective, what is a good income to me, may be peanuts for you.

 

I Trained in the UK and worked three yrs NHS and a couple in Private. Now in Ontario, Canada in private practice my income and lifestyle is better than I had in the UK. It could be even better if I sold footwear and other products but I choose not to.

If you want the options to earn more then go to the USA and take the DPM program. It's expensive and there are risks but perhaps more opportunities to advance one's income in the long haul.

 

Newbie
If you are that naive and unable to do the maths I suspect that the podiatry degree is out of your bounds.
What is it you really want to know?

Cornmerchant

 

newbie
i agree with ICP, its a fair question and the straight answer (in my experience) is no.
i have worked exclusively in the NHS so i cant speak for the private sector but it can be a really rewarding job - just not financially.
least your honest though!
good luck in your job hunting
JB

 

Newbie,
I can only speak for the UK. If you are profit/ money driven, you will probably make a reasonable amount out of whatever you choose to do. The highest full time wage attainable in the NHS for a podiatrist (in the financial year 2010/11) is £97,478. I presume you are not even on a podiatry degree yet, so including degree, surgical training and clinical experience, you would spend a minimum of (approximately) 13 years (more likely approximately 16) to attain that salary (or whatever its equivalent is in 13 years time). Of course, you can do private (surgery) practice as well to augment this income, but how much you earn there depends on a variety of factors (and take into account that the wage I have quoted is based on a full time week of 37.5 hours). There are much more lucrative careers. It all depends on your definition of what constitutes a lucrative career.
A private practice in podiatry (not surgery) can be a relatively lucrative career and you could start that up after your 3 year degree - but it will probably take some time to build. I'm hopeful that some of my colleagues on here will advise you on the sort of sums involved as I do not have personal experience of this route?
Strange to see a few negative replies on this thread - the original post was honest enough to ask a straight question, I don't think a straight answer is too much to ask.
Hope this helps and best of luck.

 

I think the replies would have been more positive and encouraging if Newbie had of expressed even one iota of genuine interest in Podiatry as a career path.

 

Lets not start a flame..., I guess I was asking the question a lil tackless. I asked the question just to find out more about the likely prospects IF i were to venture into it. I would show more interest if I already am in it.

 

For some bizarre reason, it's not the done thing to discuss salaries in this country, so perhaps this is where some of the animosity towards your post comes from? The pay scales on agenda for change (pay scales for most healthcare professions including podiatry) are public knowledge so there is an open and honest display of how much you could earn within the NHS. There are many factors governing your earning potential in private practice and it would be difficult to give you and idea of an average private practice salary, especially given that (so far) nobody on here has come forward and given you a ball-park on how much you could expect to earn based on their experience.

My 13/16 year time scale was flawed - it would take that long to get to the bottom of band 9, then you would get an increment every year for another 6 years until you reach the top - so add 6 to 13/16 and you get to 19/22 years before you're earning the equivalent of £97,478.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking how much money you are likely to get paid when you are considering any career. There will be days in anyone's career where the goodness in their hearts is low and their impending mortgage payment is a major motivator to get them out of bed. I think the fact that you have bothered to research potential careers prior to heading down any route shows maturity and that you are entering the big wide world with your eyes open - so my hat's off to you.

 

Hi

The Podiatry profession is lucrative when one is self employed. I graduated more than a year ago and when I compare my income with my fellow students who graduated with me.What they earn in a month, I earn in a week.
Therefore it is lucrative!!!!!

 

Look up the NSW Health website - there is the salary range from new grads up listed there. Generally speaking, if you want to earn more than this you'll need to go into private practice, and to charge high fees you'll need to be really good at what you do ( or be able to convince people that you are!), work in an area with high incomes, or specialise in a certain area.
I'm at Newcastle Uni, and weighed up before I started whether it would be worthwhile after 3 years off full time work & about $21,000 in HECS fees - would it be worth it? I think it will be, but I plan on working in a rural area & won't be making huge money - it's lifestyle I'm after.
Also, it's not an easy course. Maybe compared to medicine it is, but there are probably better paying jobs in other fields. Maybe do some days where you sit in on a practice & see if it's what you want.
Good luck,
Kara.

 

You can earn alot of money in private practice from nail surgery and orthoses, but in the NHS theres no money for patients let alone staff lol, the problem with orthoses is that everyones in on the game even Salford Univeristy with salford insoles, so competition is high, the thing with private practice is you can charge what you deem fair, but its rare you earn what a dentist earns =D im like evryone else on here i live to work not work to live , good luck in whatever you choose newbie

 

I was pretty much in the same boat as yourself, newbie. I can relate to what you say mate.

I am very commercially driven and this is pretty much the sole reason (no pun intended) why i studied podiatry.

For me personally, I don't really get much satisfaction from cutting the toenails of old ladies all day long. To be frank, it's pretty boring work.

Still, I do enjoy having a chat with the oldies. And this is genuinely enjoyable.

It does get irritating when you get some middle aged women coming in, who haven't been to a Podiatrist in their life. I'm talking about the ones who present with the most diffuse heel calluses, that you have ever seen in your life. The problem is, they expect to pay their $60 and get everything fixed up in 25 minutes, even though they take appalling care of their feet. Sometimes this just isn't possible. Fine, you can always say "you may need to please make another appointment".. - but the reality is, is that the chinese nail salon is just down the road and will do it for half the cost.

So, dude, yeah I'm not really that taken by Podiatry. I don't really have much job satisfaction from it. I also don't particularly enjoy having feet in my face all day long.

That being said, i do a professional job, am dazzling to the patients, NEVER complain nor hint to the patients that i don't like cutting toenails... and I have consequently established a large patient base in a short period of time.

I am earning close to $3000 a week, with minimal expenses and overheads. TAKE NOTE: this involves 12hour days, and bloody hard work.

So mate, 3 years at newcastle uni for close to $150K a year. Sure, the course was intense and demanding. But at the level of a profit/cost analysis, mate, not a bad investment at all.

I don't see myself as hanging around this profession forever, though. Other waves need to be surfed...