Chiropractors are healthcare professionals, focused on diagnosing and treating
neuromuscular problems. They treat conditions primarily by carrying out manual adjustments of a patient’s spine, carried out by their own hands.
They also look at ways to reduce pain for the patient and improve motion and functionality in joints. Educating them on ways they can help themselves, as well as carrying out repeated procedures over a prolonged period.
Patients are not always referred to chiropractors as part of their assessment and treatments from their doctors. This is because they are categorized at alternative or complementary medicines. Opposed to traditional medicines which involve drugs or surgeries prescribed by a doctor.
Chiropractor Salary
If you’re wondering, how much do chiropractors make? We can take a look at the figures recorded as a basis. The average chiropractor’s salary is $71,410. This is the median wage calculated by looking at the amount that half the workers in an occupation earned less than, and half earned more than.
A chiropractors starting salary is less than $34,990, this is the bracket where the lowest 10% fall. The highest earning 10% earns more than $149,170, displaying a wide bracket and reflecting the difference experience and skillset can make.
There is evidence to show that chiropractors earn significantly less at the beginning of their career and when they are starting out. This is because they often rely on developing a client base over time, and often waiting for recommendations from satisfied patients. This takes time, naturally growing the longer the chiropractor is in practice.
The majority of chiropractors work full time, although around a third works part time. The hours of operation can vary vastly, due to the work involving patients and needing to be fit in around their own working schedules. Self-employed practitioners can set their own hours and work as many, or as little as they like.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | New Jersey | 0.19 | $62.03 | $129,010 |
 | Connecticut | 0.09 | $52.23 | $108,630 |
 | Delaware | 0.21 | $48.92 | $101,750 |
 | Florida | 0.24 | $48.75 | $101,390 |
 | Massachusetts | 0.12 | $48.71 | $101,310 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Dentists | 0.02 | $77.17 | $160,520 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 0.04 | $54.99 | $114,380 |
| Offices of Physicians | 0.05 | $47.40 | $98,590 |
| Specialty Hospitals | 0.01 | $44.54 | $92,650 |
| Offices of Health Practitioners | 3.56 | $37.71 | $78,430 |
Chiropractor Job Description
With several branches of complementary medical practices, like; sports therapists, and physical therapists, people often ask, ‘‘what do Chiropractors do?’’
Chiropractors are healthcare professionals with a focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mechanical disorders. They specialise in the musculoskeletal system, and the look at how disorders have an effect on a patient’s nervous system and general health.
Patients are referred to chiropractors to relieve pain, stiffness, and restore mobility to damaged areas. Treatments are carried out by hand, using pressure and force to manipulate joints in the body. Chiropractors treat acute problems or injuries picked up in day-to-day life, to serious injuries through sports or accidents, to chronic conditions that may be hereditary or disease related.
There is a holistic element to the treatment of patients. Physical, psychological, and social influences go into a chiropractors work. The treatment is carried out without the use of drugs or surgical techniques. The intended result is for the body’s natural healing process to be helped.
Chiropractors work on a one-to-one basis with patients, and often involve any number of the following:
• Looking at a patient’s medical history and lifestyle choices
• Carrying out physical examinations of patients
• Analysing a patient’s posture, spine, and joint mobility
• Taking x-rays and analysing the results
• Carrying out some routine medical tests such as blood pressure
• Performing tissue therapies via massage
• Educating patients by talking them through available therapies
• Maintaining accurate, confidential records
A chiropractic career path can be fairly static. There are not a lot of new technologies and developments coming out yearly to learn about. The principles of the human body have been known for a number of years, but practices to attend specific pain points do change, mostly due to an individual’s own technique.
Chiropractor Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 0.18 | $39.08 | $81.290 |
 | Alaska | 0.28 | – | – |
 | Arizona | 0.35 | $33.95 | $70.610 |
 | Arkansas | 0.25 | $40.31 | $83.850 |
 | California | 0.16 | $43.22 | $89.900 |
 | Colorado | 0.38 | $30.87 | $64.210 |
| Connecticut | 0.09 | $52.23 | $108.630 |
| Delaware | 0.21 | $48.92 | $101.750 |
| Florida | 0.24 | $48.75 | $101.390 |
 | Georgia | 0.24 | $36.25 | $75.400 |
 | Hawaii | 0.09 | $36.53 | $75.980 |
 | Idaho | 0.41 | $24.87 | $51.740 |
 | Illinois | 0.28 | $32.47 | $67.540 |
 | Indiana | 0.21 | $43.24 | $89.950 |
 | Iowa | 0.36 | $35.36 | $73.550 |
 | Kansas | 0.33 | $33.75 | $70.210 |
 | Kentucky | 0.19 | $36.19 | $75.280 |
 | Louisiana | 0.14 | $40.09 | $83.390 |
 | Maine | 0.34 | $35.41 | $73.650 |
 | Maryland | 1.43 | $39.58 | $82.320 |
| Massachusetts | 0.12 | $48.71 | $101.310 |
 | Michigan | 0.33 | $36.60 | $76.130 |
 | Minnesota | 0.34 | $30.18 | $62.780 |
 | Mississippi | 0.10 | $35.87 | $74.600 |
 | Missouri | 0.21 | $33.80 | $70.310 |
 | Montana | 0.43 | $28.61 | $59.500 |
 | Nebraska | 0.42 | $35.71 | $74.270 |
 | Nevada | 0.30 | $31.32 | $65.140 |
 | New Hampshire | 0.13 | $39.87 | $82.930 |
| New Jersey | 0.19 | $62.03 | $129.010 |
 | New Mexico | 0.17 | $41.60 | $86.520 |
 | New York | 0.17 | $40.37 | $83.970 |
 | North Carolina | 0.16 | $44.78 | $93.140 |
 | North Dakota | 0.41 | $34.84 | $72.470 |
 | Ohio | 0.23 | $47.20 | $98.180 |
 | Oklahoma | 0.23 | $33.96 | $70.630 |
 | Oregon | 0.40 | $31.93 | $66.410 |
 | Pennsylvania | 0.23 | $36.96 | $76.880 |
 | Rhode Island | 0.27 | $33.13 | $68.920 |
 | South Carolina | 0.19 | $48.44 | $100.760 |
 | South Dakota | 0.49 | $37.70 | $78.410 |
 | Tennessee | 0.11 | $41.85 | $87.050 |
 | Texas | 0.17 | $28.06 | $58.370 |
 | Utah | 0.21 | $28.77 | $59.840 |
 | Vermont | 0.31 | $28.11 | $58.460 |
 | Virginia | 0.22 | $40.45 | $84.130 |
 | Washington | 0.27 | $31.62 | $65.770 |
 | West Virginia | 0.11 | $40.11 | $83.430 |
 | Wisconsin | 0.38 | $37.95 | $78.940 |
 | Wyoming | 0.26 | $35.85 | $74.580 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden – NJ, Metropolitan Division | 0.09 | $83.77 | $174,240 |
| Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk – CT | 0.09 | $78.70 | $163,690 |
| Rockford – IL | 0.80 | $73.39 | $152,640 |
| Anchorage – AK | 0.38 | $67.64 | $140,690 |
| Greensboro/High Point – NC | 0.11 | $66.71 | $138,770 |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 0.35 | $53.02 | $110,280 |
| Capital – Northern New York, nonmetropolitan area | 0.21 | $52.74 | $109,690 |
| Western/Central/North Carolina, nonmetropolitan area | 0.19 | $49.25 | $102,440 |
| Central Missouri, nonmetropolitan area | – | $48.74 | $101,380 |
| Southern Indiana, nonmetropolitan area | 0.29 | $47.33 | $98,440 |
Chiropractor Job Outlook
The outlook for the employment of chiropractors is projected to grow around 12% between 2016 and 2026. This is a faster rate of growth than the average for all occupations. The reason for this is the increasing number of people seeking chiropractic treatments.
Attitudes and approaches to medicine has changed a lot over recent years, and receiving treatments on the neck, back, limbs and other areas of the body has become more accepted. As a result of this there is a lot more work and referrals being passed across from medical professionals.
Another reason for the projected growth is the increase in aging population, and the baby-boom generation. Being a line of work that relies on patients, and more so elderly patients, an increase in the elderly population will lead to more work.
