Healthcare practitioners
Chiropractor
Assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.
Median pay
$79,200
Growth to 2035
+9%
faster than average
Openings a year
2,600
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Chiropractor
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Chiropractor: 50% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients and interpreting x-rays.
- 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.
Also called: Chiropractic Doctor (DC) · Chiropractic Neurologist · Chiropractic Physician
Outlook and AI
Chiropractors held 61,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 67,000 by 2035 (+9%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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