Chiropractor Salary: Your 2024 Guide

Chiropractors earn an average salary of between $53,608 and $86,029, but the exact salary you may earn in this position can vary according to your level of experience, where you work, and your specialization.

Chiropractors are trained health care professionals who treat the neuromusculoskeletal system, including the bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments. They often adopt a holistic attitude toward the body and its self-healing abilities in their treatment plans and provide patients with nutrition and exercise recommendations.

As more patients are interested in finding natural, drug-free ways to heal, chiropractors are expected to rise in demand. Compared to all occupations, chiropractors have three times the projected job growth between 2022 and 2032 [1]. To decide whether this in-demand career is the right fit for you, read on to better understand what it takes to become a chiropractor and ways to increase your earning potential.

What does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor performs manual spinal adjustments and manipulations on patients to treat physical pain or ailments involving the body's neuromusculoskeletal system to promote overall health and wellness. Chiropractors do not prescribe medication but instead focus on aligning the spine and other joints to promote the body's self-healing properties. 

Common duties and responsibilities of a chiropractor include: 

• Administering and interpreting X-rays of the spine as well as other diagnostic tests

• Manually adjusting the spine, back, knees, hips, and other joints in the body

• Educating patients on nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes to promote health and healing

• Putting together non-invasive treatment plans for patients, which may involve techniques beyond manual spinal adjustments such as massage therapy, exercise, or stimulation

• Investigating and understanding a patient’s past and current medical history

Read more: How to Become a Chiropractor: A Step-by-Step Guide

How much do chiropractors make?

As a chiropractor, you can expect to earn a median salary between $53,608 and $86,029, according to various job listing sites. However, it’s important to note that this number varies depending on factors such as your location, experience level, job title, and whether you work independently or with a chiropractor clinic. 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest 10 percent of chiropractors earn over $142,580 per year, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $39,960 annually [2]. 

According to five different sites in 2024, the median annual salary you can expect as a chiropractor is as follows:

Because a chiropractor may work in a chiropractic practice with other doctors or own their own practice, the annual average salary for this profession can have fairly wide gaps. Your years of experience, any specializations, and any certifications you hold will significantly impact how much you can earn as a chiropractor. In some cases, chiropractors may progress to own or become partners in an independent practice, which further alters earning potential.

What is the highest-paid chiropractor?

Location-wise, the highest-paid chiropractors are found in Alaska, Arizona, and Nevada, with especially high salaries found in Anchorage, Alaska, and Reno, Nevada. However, if you’re looking for the highest-paid positions in your area, check out career opportunities in general medical and surgical hospitals and employment services, as chiropractors tend to see increased earnings in these industries.    

Factors that affect salary

To accurately assess how much you’re likely to make as a chiropractor, you need to consider your location, experience level, industry, work hours, and job title. For most professions, you can expect your pay to be higher in areas with a higher cost of living and for it to increase periodically as you gain experience and proficiency. As a chiropractor, you might find your pay altered in the following ways.

Location

Where you work as a chiropractor may affect your annual salary. Several states offer higher-than-average annual salaries for chiropractors, with mean hourly wages rising as high as $70.79 in some cities [7]. According to the BLS, top-paying states for chiropractors include: 

• Alaska: $134,020

• Arkansas: $110,110

• Nevada: $107,920

• Oklahoma: $103,330

Going one step further, the city you work in can also make a huge impact on your salary. Metropolitan areas tend to pay more than nonmetropolitan areas, with the top-paying cities being:

• Anchorage, AK: $147,240

• Reno, NV: $134,410

• Riverside-San Bernadino-Ontario, CA: $122,870

• Killeen-Temple, TX: $122,870

Industry

When it comes to your earning potential, industry matters. While the highest concentration of chiropractors work in a chiropractor’s office, top earners actually come from other work environments [7]. Top-earning industries pay the following average annual salaries, according to the BLS [7]:

• General medical and surgical hospitals: $125,870

• Employment services: $105,930 

• Outpatient care centers: $101,660 

• Offices of other health practitioners: $89,130

• Offices of physicians: $84,080

Employment status 

Chiropractic offices may have different hours from those of other medical providers. For example, many practices may hold night and weekend appointments. 

Some chiropractors work part-time, full-time, or a mix of both. You may even find some chiropractors who travel to see clients or work more on the go than in an office setting. If you own your own practice, you have the freedom to set your hours. All of these factors will likely affect your salary.

Job title

Your job title as a chiropractor may impact your yearly earnings as well. Typically, you enter into an entry-level chiropractor position, such as an associate chiropractor, before advancing to more senior positions as you gain years of experience. Typically, all chiropractors are required to hold a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree and a license to work within their state, so job title changes come from experience level and specialization rather than education level. For example, if you choose to specialize in an area such as pediatrics or radiology, you’ll be able to advance to more specialized positions in these areas.

As you progress, you might choose to move into management positions, such as clinical director roles, or specialize in certain industries, such as sports. Examples of job titles for licensed chiropractors and their salaries include:

• Associate chiropractor: $74,057 [8]

• Chiropractor clinical director: $87,294 [9]

• Chiropractic physician: $135,263 [10]

• Sports team chiropractor: $82,259 [11]

Read more: 10 High Paying Medical Jobs

Job outlook

The job outlook for chiropractors is strong, with several factors contributing to expected growth over the next decade. More patients are looking for noninvasive options to treat injuries and reduce pain, and many turn to chiropractors for manual adjustments and holistic treatment plans. In addition to this, the aging population is likely to lead to an increase in musculoskeletal concerns, which further elevates the chiropractic outlook. In fact, between 2022 and 2023, the BLS estimates chiropractors will see a 9 percent increase in demand [1]. 

Learn a holistic approach to health care on Coursera

Expand your overall career options by specializing in a particular area of health and wellness related to chiropractic care. Preventing Chronic Pain: A Human Systems Approach, offered through the University of Minnesota on Coursera, focuses on different non-invasive, natural approaches to preventing chronic pain.