Chiropractors earn a median of $79,200 per year ($38.08/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 8.7% through 2035, with about 2,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1011
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Chiropractor in four numbers
- Median pay
- $79,200a year, or $38.08/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $43KTop 10% $146K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +8.7%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+8.7%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +8.7% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,60061,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202561.7K
- Projected 203567K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 61.7K Projected 2035 67K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school3.6%
- Certificate6.8%
- Professional degree7.5%
- Doctorate82.1%
Highest education held by chiropractors Segment Value High school 3.6% Certificate 6.8% Professional degree 7.5% Doctorate 82.1%
Also advertised as: Chiropractic Doctor (DC), Chiropractic Neurologist, Chiropractic Physician.
Pay
How much do Chiropractors make?
Every chiropractor in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$79,200
Middle half earn $60,070 to $105,050
- 10th
- $43,460
- 25th
- $60,070
- 75th
- $105,050
- 90th
- $146,080
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $43,460 |
| 25th | $60,070 |
| Median | $79,200 |
| 75th | $105,050 |
| 90th | $146,080 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $79,200
- Median hourly wage
- $38.08/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $90,520
- People employed
- 39,630
Versus all US occupations
At $79,200, Chiropractors earn 55% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $28,220 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 23% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $146,080 or more while the bottom 10% earn $43,460, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 58% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $134,990, and still leads at $124,066 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Chiropractors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $134,990 | $124,066 | 1,370 |
| 2New York | $120,950 | $112,073 | 1,360 |
| 3Maine | $107,300 | $110,562 | 250 |
| 4Washington | $104,070 | $97,250 | 1,130 |
| 5Alaska | $103,500 | $101,115 | 90 |
| 6Arizona | $100,260 | $99,586 | 1,050 |
| 7North Carolina | $91,540 | $97,046 | 1,020 |
| 8Virginia | $88,030 | $87,069 | 900 |
| 9Texas | $87,520 | $90,174 | 2,840 |
| 10Oklahoma | $85,580 | $97,424 | 500 |
Job outlook
Is Chiropractor a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +8.7% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Chiropractors | +8.7% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Chiropractors to change 8.7% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.5× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 5,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,600 openings are projected each year, 4.2% of the 61,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
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.
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.
An aging population also will create opportunities for chiropractors. 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.
Getting in
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as chiropractors.
- Doctoral Degree82.1%
- First Professional Degree7.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)3.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 82.1% |
| First Professional Degree | 7.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Chiropractor do?
Assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.
Chiropractors assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulating the spine and musculoskeletal system. They may provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
- Maintain accurate case histories of patients.
- Consult with or refer patients to appropriate health practitioners when necessary.
- Advise patients about recommended courses of treatment.
- Counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.
- Provide guidance to patients on exercises they can perform to improve mobility.
- Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.
- Obtain and record patients' medical histories.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where chiropractors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Offices of chiropractors57%
- Self-employed workers36%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Offices of chiropractors | 57% |
| Self-employed workers | 36% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.6
- Active Learning3.5
- Science3.4
- Monitoring3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Science | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Service Orientation3.8
- Instructing3.1
- Persuasion3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Systems Evaluation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Chiropractor?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Chiropractor |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Social5.6
- Realistic5.5
- Investigative4.8
- Conventional3.5
- Enterprising2.1
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Chiropractor
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
$265,930median a year
Most earn $69K to $452K
+3.4%Doctorate
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with chiropractors highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Chiropractor$79,200
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Chiropractor | $79,200 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Chiropractor appears on
Questions
Chiropractor: frequently asked questions
How much do Chiropractors make?
Chiropractors earn a median of $79,200 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 55% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $38.08/hr. The middle half earn between $60,070 and $105,050. The top 10% earn $146,080 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Chiropractor?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Chiropractors. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 82.1% hold doctoral degree.
Is Chiropractor a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Chiropractor do?
Chiropractors assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulating the spine and musculoskeletal system. A core O*NET task: evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Chiropractors the most?
The highest state medians for Chiropractors are New Jersey ($134,990), New York ($120,950), Maine ($107,300) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Chiropractor?
O*NET scores Chiropractors highest on the Social, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.