### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Chiropractors Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			chiropractors imageChiropractors treat patients with health problems of the neuromusculoskeletal system.							
						Quick Facts:     Chiropractors2023     Median Pay
            						$76,530     per year
										$36.79     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Doctoral or professional degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    55,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    9% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    4,900What Chiropractors Do
                                                
                        
                        
Chiropractors evaluate and treat patients' neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most chiropractors work in a solo or group chiropractic practice. Some are self-employed. Chiropractors usually work full time, but part-time work is common.
            
                                                How to Become a Chiropractor
                                                
                        
Chiropractors typically need a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Completing a D.C. program typically takes about 4 years, in addition to at least 3 years of undergraduate study. Every state requires chiropractors to be licensed.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for chiropractors was $76,530 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of chiropractors is projected to grow							 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 2,600 openings for chiropractors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for chiropractors.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of chiropractors with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about chiropractors by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Chiropractors Do 
            

			ChiropractorsChiropractors perform manual therapy to help patients with back and neck pain.			
Chiropractors evaluate and treat patients' neuromusculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They use spinal adjustments and manipulation, as well as other clinical interventions, to manage patients’ health concerns, such as back and neck pain.
Duties
Chiropractors typically do the following:
Review a patient's medical history and listen to their concerns
Perform a physical examination to analyze the patient's posture, spine, and reflexes
Provide neuromusculoskeletal therapy, which involves adjusting a patient’s spinal column and other joints
Give additional treatments, such as applying heat or cold to a patient’s injured areas
Advise patients on health and lifestyle issues, such as exercise and nutrition
Refer patients to other healthcare professionals if neededChiropractors treat a variety of problems related to the neuromusculoskeletal system. They focus on pain in the back, neck, and joints and how relieving this pain can improve patients’ overall health. The goal is to improve the body’s motion and function.
In diagnosing a patient's condition, chiropractors often use both external and internal assessments. For example, a chiropractor may observe the patient's range of motion related to shoulder pain and then follow up with x rays to provide more detailed information.
Some chiropractors treat patients using procedures such as massage therapy, rehabilitative exercise, and electrical muscle stimulation in addition to spinal adjustments and manipulation. They also may apply supports, such as braces or tape, to treat patients and relieve pain.
In addition to operating a general chiropractic practice, chiropractors may specialize in areas such as sports, neurology, or nutrition. Chiropractors who are self-employed or work in private practice may have additional responsibilities that include marketing their business, hiring staff, and keeping records.
 Work Environment
			chiropractors imageChiropractors typically work in office settings.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Chiropractors held about 55,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of chiropractors were as follows:
        Offices of chiropractors
                63%Self-employed workers
                31Chiropractors typically work in office settings. They may need to stand for long periods and lift or turn patients.
Work Schedules
Most chiropractors work full time, but part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and include evenings or weekends to accommodate patients. Self-employed chiropractors may have the flexibility to set their own hours.
 How to Become a Chiropractor

			ChiropractorsChiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree and get a state license.			
Chiropractors typically need a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. Completing a D.C. program typically takes about 4 years, in addition to at least 3 years of undergraduate study. Every state requires chiropractors to be licensed.
Education
Chiropractors must have a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from an accredited chiropractic college. A D.C. degree usually takes 4 years to complete. Chiropractic colleges are accredited by The Council on Chiropractic Education.
Admission to D.C. programs requires at least 3 years of undergraduate education, although applicants commonly have a bachelor’s degree. Typical bachelor’s degrees for prospective D.C. students include biology, healthcare and related fields, or kinesiology, exercise physiology, or other subjects focusing on physical movement. Chiropractic programs generally require applicants to have completed coursework in sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as general education studies.
A D.C. program includes coursework in anatomy, physiology, biology, and similar subjects. Courses in business management, such as marketing and finance, also may be included. Chiropractic students gain supervised clinical experience in areas such as diagnosis, spinal assessment, and adjustment techniques. D.C. programs may offer a dual-degree option, in which students earn either a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in another field while completing their D.C.
Some chiropractors complete postgraduate programs that lead to diplomate credentials. These programs provide additional training in specialty areas, such as orthopedics, acupuncture, and pediatrics.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All states require chiropractors to be licensed, although requirements vary by state. At a minimum, all require the completion of an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree program and passing all four parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) exam. States also may require candidates to pass a background check and state-specific law exams, called jurisprudence exams.
All states require practicing chiropractors to earn a specified number of hours of continuing education credits to maintain a chiropractic license. Contact your state’s board of chiropractic examiners or health department for more specific information about licensure.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***Chiropractors must listen to patients and explain procedures clearly both orally and in written reports.
***Decision-**making**skills.*** Chiropractors must evaluate each patient’s needs and recommend treatment based on those needs. They must also decide when to refer patients to other healthcare professionals.
***Detail oriented.*** Chiropractors must pay attention when diagnosing and treating patients to avoid mistakes that could harm them.
***Dexterity.*** Chiropractors must have good coordination when performing manual adjustments to a patient's spine and other joints.
***Empathy.*** Chiropractors often care for people who are in pain. They must be understanding and sympathetic to their patients’ problems and needs.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Chiropractors must be personable in order to put patients at ease and expand their practice.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                ChiropractorsMedian annual wages, May 2023Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners$98,760  Chiropractors$76,530  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for chiropractors was $76,530 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $142,580.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for chiropractors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Offices of chiropractors
                $75,930Wage data do not cover self-employed workers or owners and partners of unincorporated businesses.
Earnings vary with the chiropractor’s number of years in practice, geographic region of practice, and hours worked. Chiropractors tend to earn more as they build a client base and become owners of, or partners in, a practice.
Most chiropractors work full time, but part-time work is common. Work schedules may vary and include evenings or weekends to accommodate patients. Self-employed chiropractors may have the flexibility to set their own hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               ChiropractorsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners9%  Chiropractors9%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of chiropractors is projected to grow				 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 2,600 openings for chiropractors are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Demand is expected to increase for chiropractic services as a nonsurgical, drug-free way to treat pain and improve overall wellness. Rising interest in integrative or complementary healthcare has led to more acceptance of chiropractic treatment of the back, neck, limbs, and involved joints. As a result, chiropractors are increasingly working with other healthcare workers, such as physicians and physical therapists, through referrals and complementary care.
Opportunities for chiropractors also will be created by the continued aging of the large baby-boom generation. Older adults are more likely than younger people to have neuromusculoskeletal and joint problems, and they will continue to seek chiropractic care and other types of treatment for these conditions.
			

                        Employment projections data for     chiropractors, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Chiropractors**
			29-1011
			55,000
			59,800
			9
			4,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Chiropractors **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of chiropractors. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Athletic Trainers**
            Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses.
            Master's degree
            $57,930**Massage Therapists**
            Massage therapists treat clients by applying pressure to manipulate the body's soft tissues and joints.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $55,310**Occupational Therapists**
            Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence.
            Master's degree
            $96,370**Physical Therapists**
            Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $99,710**Physicians and Surgeons**
            Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            This wage is equal to or greater than $239,200 per year.**Podiatrists**
            Podiatrists provide medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and lower leg problems.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $141,650**Exercise Physiologists**
            Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs to help people improve their health.
            Bachelor's degree
            $54,860**Dentists**
            Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $170,910**Optometrists**
            Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system, including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $131,860
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information on a career as a chiropractor, visit
American Chiropractic Association
International Chiropractors Association
Discover Chiropractic
For a list of chiropractic programs and institutions, as well as for general information on chiropractic education, visit
Association of Chiropractic Colleges
The Council on Chiropractic Education
For information on state education and licensure requirements, visit
Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
For information about licensing exams, visit
National Board of Chiropractic Examiners
CareerOneStop
For a career video on chiropractors, visit
Chiropractors

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Chiropractors
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Chiropractors, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/chiropractors.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 
PSB Suite 2135 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE  
Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone:1-202-691-5700 

www.bls.gov/ooh
Contact OOH