Chiropractors

Chiropractors focus on assisting and caring for others by evaluating, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal issues. On a daily basis, these professionals perform spinal adjustments and address pelvic or sacral misalignments. The job requires performing general physical activities, handling and moving objects, and working directly with the public. To understand patient needs, practitioners rely on active listening, speaking, critical thinking, and social perceptiveness. They must gather information, analyze data, and solve complex problems to make treatment decisions.

This career suits individuals with strong social interests who value service orientation and empathy. Daily tasks also involve documenting patient information and ensuring all treatments comply with healthcare standards. Successful practitioners combine knowledge of medicine, biology, therapy, and counseling with administrative and management skills to run their practices. They must demonstrate attention to detail, dependability, cooperation, and integrity in all patient interactions.

Entering this field requires extensive preparation, typically culminating in a doctoral or professional degree. Most individuals in this occupation hold a graduate degree, such as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), and major in chiropractic studies during their college education.

Depending on where they plan to practice, professionals may need to obtain a license, as some states list a license for this work. Additionally, practitioners can pursue voluntary professional certifications to demonstrate specialized expertise. Examples of these credentials include the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and the Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, both offered by the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians.

In 2025, the median annual pay for chiropractors was $79,200. This means half of the workers in this occupation earned more than this amount, while the other half earned less. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location; the lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $43,460, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $146,080.

There are 39,630 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 8.7 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, along with normal staff turnover, is expected to result in 2,600 job openings each year.