Chiropractors

29-1011.00 Zone 5 — Extensive Preparation Needed

Assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.

Also known as: Chiropractic Doctor (DC), Chiropractic Neurologist, Chiropractic Physician, Chiropractor

Annual Salary

$79,000

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$59,320 25th – 75th percentile $104,000
10th percentile $44,780
90th percentile $149,990
U.S. Employment: 37,630

Job Outlook

+9.5%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Much faster than average)

Annual Job Openings 2,800 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Doctoral or professional degree

What You'd Do

  • Perform a series of manual adjustments to the spine or other articulations of the body to correct the musculoskeletal system.
  • Evaluate the functioning of the neuromuscularskeletal system and the spine using systems of chiropractic diagnosis.
  • Diagnose health problems by reviewing patients' health and medical histories, questioning, observing, and examining patients and interpreting x-rays.
  • Maintain accurate case histories of patients.
  • Advise patients about recommended courses of treatment.
  • Obtain and record patients' medical histories.
  • Analyze x-rays to locate the sources of patients' difficulties and to rule out fractures or diseases as sources of problems.
  • Counsel patients about nutrition, exercise, sleeping habits, stress management, or other matters.
  • Consult with or refer patients to appropriate health practitioners when necessary.
  • Suggest and apply the use of supports such as straps, tapes, bandages, or braces if necessary.

Top Skills

Active Listening 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Speaking 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.9
Writing 3.8
Social Perceptiveness 3.8
Complex Problem Solving 3.6
Service Orientation 3.5

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Medicine and Dentistry 4.3
English Language 4.1
Customer and Personal Service 4.1
Biology 3.9
Psychology 3.8
Administration and Management 3.8
Administrative 3.5
Personnel and Human Resources 3.5

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Doctoral
82.1%
Professional
7.5%
Certificate
6.8%
High School
3.6%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word

Other Tools

ACOM Solutions RAPID EMR Acrendo A.I.med Addison Health Systems WritePad EHR Advantage Software Chiropractic Advantage Billing software BioEx Systems Exercise Pro ChiroSoft ChiroTouch EHR DataCom Software Business Products M.I.S. Clinic DocumentPlus E-Z BIS Office Electro Meridian Imaging EMI Electronic medical record EMR software EZClaim medical billing software EZnotes +11 more

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.5
Attention to Detail
2.4
Dependability
2.3
Cooperation
2.2
Cautiousness
2.2
Empathy
2.1
Integrity
2.0
Self-Control

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.0
Written Comprehension 4.0
Oral Expression 4.0
Problem Sensitivity 4.0
Deductive Reasoning 4.0
Inductive Reasoning 4.0
Written Expression 3.9
Speech Clarity 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Assisting and Caring for Others 4.7
Documenting/Recording Information 4.5
Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.3
Getting Information 4.3
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.2
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events 4.1
Performing General Physical Activities 4.1
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public 4.1

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Contact With Others
5.0
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
5.0
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
5.0
Freedom to Make Decisions
5.0
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.9
Physical Proximity
4.8
Telephone Conversations
4.8
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.7
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
4.6
Frequency of Decision Making
4.6
E-Mail
4.3
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
4.3

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.