# Acupuncturists

> Diagnose, treat, and prevent disorders by stimulating specific acupuncture points within the body using acupuncture needles. May also use cups, nutritional supplements, therapeutic massage, acupressure, and other alternative health therapies.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/acupuncturists
- SOC code: 29-1291.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $76,040 (10th percentile $38,830, 90th percentile $161,470)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +8.6%
- Openings a year: 800
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SIR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 63 |
| Investigative (I) | 75 |
| Artistic (A) | 18 |
| Social (S) | 78 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 34 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 93/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 89/100)
- Getting Information (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 81/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 80/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 79/100)
- Performing Administrative Activities (importance 69/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 66/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 66/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology, Biology, English Language, Administrative, Therapy and Counseling, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Sales and Marketing

## Also called

Acupressure Therapist, Acupressurist, Acupuncture Doctor, Acupuncture Physician, Acupuncture Provider, Acupuncturist, Auricular Acupuncturist, Auricular Detoxification Specialist, Auricular Therapist, Chinese Medical Doctor (Chinese MD)

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5133) (CIP 5133, 54 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver-1667) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $33,605 | $45,766 | $19,000 |
| [Ashford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ashford-university-121) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $43,308 | $44,036 | $40,444 |
| [Vermont Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vermont-technical-college-3121) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | not reported | $40,273 | $26,636 |
| [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $31,786 | $36,960 | $40,291 |

## Related careers

- [Naturopathic Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/naturopathic-physicians): $115,210 median pay
- [Chiropractors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chiropractors): $79,200 median pay
- [Massage Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/massage-therapists): $58,450 median pay
- [Cardiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiologists): $496,010 median pay
- [General Internal Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-internal-medicine-physicians): $256,560 median pay
- [Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation-physicians): $265,930 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.